*Beep...Beep...Beep…*

*Ptshhhhhhhh*

“I know those sounds” the woman thought as the world drifted back to her. She slowly opened her eyes to a blurry ceiling with a calming cloud motif. Blinking away the haze, Maze caught the tops of the surrounding equipment and IV stands feeding tubes and wires into her various ports.

“Heeeeyyy…” she heard weakly from her side. She turned her head to see a very tired looking Twilight lying in the bed next to hers, a small smile on her lips despite the multitude of wrappings and tubes covering her form “...There you are.”

“Hey” Maze returned and tried to sit up and found it much more difficult than expected. She tired bringing up her HUD only to see a blurry [System in Repair] flash for a second, promoting a projected hologram of her status to pop up before her instead to say she only had a combat readiness of... “SIX PERCENT!?”

A chuckle escaped Twilight before turning into a small cough.

“Between the Elements and…” She paused to take a breath “Celestia’s power, you burnt out the vast majority of your systems... And when I say burnt, I mean literally.”

“I can see that” the cyborg returned before looking over at the unicorn with concern; she may not have seen much of what Umbra did to her, but she had certainly heard it “How are you doing?”

“I’ll live... don’t worry. It may be a little while but they say I should... make a full recovery…” a larger smirk graced the unicorn’s lips “Though I might end up with a couple ‘Shiny inside bits’ like you.”

Maze shot back with a smirk of her own before taking a better look around. They were a very upscale yet small ward, and based on the equipment and security she guessed they were in a private ward for nobles and guests. While Maze wasn’t really familiar with this one’s layout she could still tell they were in the castle, and knew the Princesses kept their own personal medical wing. Plus she doubted they’d give Celestia’s personal student anything but the best care.

“How long have I been out?” she asked after a moment.

“I want to say three days, but I’ve been in and out for a lot of that myself” her wardmate answered “At least two though, I know that much.”

“And Celestia?”

Twilight’s gaze fell, though her expression didn't quite reach worried.

“Still unconscious, but alive… beyond that though, well...” she delivered a bit monotone after the brief hesitation, however as Maze was about to inquire she was cut off by the sound of double doors and several murmuring voices over steps of varying types.

“I got an alert from her support systems that she’s awake.” a familiar voice echoed to them.

“I just checked a moment ago and she-” a nurse peaked around the corner and stopped at the sight of the cyborg “...apparently is awake. Very well, but do be mindful not to get them too excited. I’ll call the doctor to assess her recovery.”

“Well I can do that” an aquamarine pony stepped out from behind the nurse, followed by Trixie, Crystal and a somewhat jury-rigged looking Wolf “There she is!”

“Hey guys” Maze gave a small wave as they approached, noting they had they had their own fair share of bandages and limping gaits “Seems like none of us got away without a beating eh?”

“Well, except Johnny” Crystal countered, select areas of her exposed skin wrapped in familiar blue soaked bandages. The rest of her seemed okay other than some warped and burnt chitin.

“Can’t you just shapeshift the burns away?” Twilight asked, back to a more chipper tone, while Lyra stepped forward with her pad and interfaced with Maze’s systems.

“I could but the cells would still be damaged, so they’d just be healing somewhere else. Like when my wing was burned.” Twilight oh’d at the explanation while the changeling refocused on the cyborg “So how you feel’n?”

“Well I feel fine, but my HUDs telling me different.”

“That would be the bed,” Lyra piped in “Some real fancy spellwork and meds for suppressing pain and such. Either of you leave your bed though and you’ll definitely start feeling it.”

“It would be best if you avoided your typical rebellious recovery behaviour” Wolf added as Maze tried not to smile too big at his large head not matching standard fenrir body. He seemed to be dealing alright though.

“You have fun stomping around as a RAY?”

“It was a curious experience, but my standard form is far more suitable for my primary function.”

The human just rolled her eyes before they drifted over to the remaining, uncharacteristically quiet pony. Trixie had her arm in a sling and heavy bags under her eyes below a curious, cakey cream almost completely encasing her horn.

“Yeah…” the showmare noticed the look “Pushed my magic a bit too far during the fight.”

“Ugh, mana burn is the worst.” Twilight commented, though didn’t elicit any response from the blue unicorn.

“Speaking of, what was with that second burst of power?” Maze remembered.

“Ugh!” Crystal’s head fell into her hands before the others could answer. With a wry smile Lyra explained.

“Well, during the fight we noticed Twilight and the rest were in pretty bad shape so we went to try and help any way we could, even if not all of us had magic to heal or syphon to them. But as it turned out we already had a far better magic for the job…”

The changeling groaned into her palms, making for a very confused Maze until Twilight softly sang,

~“Frrriiieennndshiiip”~

“It’s so LAME!” Crystal’s head shot back up as Maze and the others just burst out laughing. As the titters died out and Crystal slumped dramatically, Twilight finished for Lyra.

“In addition to just the extra power, the Elements were better able to sync with you since your connection to your friends was stronger than it was with the girls and I.” she paused before adding with a small smirk “Don’t worry, we didn’t take it personally.”

“Thanks” the cyborg returned before looking over to the grumpy changeling “Hey hammy or not, at least it worked right? Besides I figured you changelings would have come around to its potential, what with Chrysalis being beaten by it and all.”

“Chrysalis was beaten by love.” Crystal corrected.

“Technically speaking” a new voice entered the conversation, all heads turned to see Princess Luna making her way towards them “Friendship is love, it’s simply not a romantic kind… usually.”

“Princess” several members of the group bowed as she approached, Maze just waved her still stump of an arm.

“Hey Lulu!” a small chuckle escaped the alicorn.

“Maisie” she returned with a smile before regarding the others “Would all mind giving her and I a moment?”

“Oh, um yes, of course your highness. We should probably get back out there anyway.” Lyra quickly acquiesced and tried to herd the group away as she gave Maze a call back as they were leaving “We’ll catch you up on everything later… or Twi can tell you, yeah?”

The purple unicorn gave her old classmate a thumbs up while Luna focused on the cyborg and took a seat the the end of the bed.

“My apologies, I thought we could converse better on our own.”

“Um, should I just plug my ears or something?” Twilight asked concerned, prompting a smile from the dream guardian.

“Oh no, you’re fine Twilight. I just haven’t a lot of time and they can easily return later where I may have more difficulty in it. That and I expect my presence would have left them just hovering around timidly. It happens quite often really.” she elaborated and redirected to the human again “How are you feeling?”

“Well I feel fine,” Maze repeated with a furrowed brow “but my system says I’m only running at six percent…”

“Oh that’s good! You were only at two yesterday…” seeing the concerned look deepen, Luna placed a comforting hand on Maze’s “Don’t worry, both the doctor and Lyra say you’ll be fine. You will have to stay here for a little while, but you’ll recover. At an exponential rate as well, they inform me.”

A sigh escaped the unicorn next to them.

“Hey don’t worry Twi, I’m sure they’re trying to share as much of me as they can to help everyone. Hell if Lyra keeps up at the rate she’s going you’ll all be just like me before too long… well maybe not just like me.”

“A whole population of Maisies? Makers help us” the alicorn teased. Maze stuck her tongue out as the pair just giggled “Though speaking of sharing… I’d very much appreciate if you’d share what happened between you and Discord.”

The tone didn’t turn ominous but the was a definitely a sudden tension in the air.

“Um… I’m sure the others told you how it went down, right?”

“They did…” Luna left hanging in the air for a moment “But they still don’t understand exactly what happened or why, only that it seemed like you did.”

“Uhhhhhh-”

“No? Well perhaps I shall tell it as I understand, and then we can fill in the blanks together...”

“Y’all sure about this Maze?” Applejack asked as the statue was wheeled into the center of the group.

“Luna’s been captured and we have no other option to end this before it’s too late. I’d say that’s a ‘shit’s hit the fan moment’ if there ever was one.” the cyborg said.

“But…” Fluttershy squeaked “Won’t this just make things worse?”

“He’ll help us” Maze stayed resolute.

“How do you know that?!” Rainbow demanded.

“Because that’s… ugh, I just do okay! I can’t explain it!”

“So, what!? We’re just supposed to unleash a god of chaos on the world because of your gut feeling!?” Dash continued.

“I didn’t say it was a feeling. I said I know.”

“Do you?” Pinkie asked meekly. Maze turned to see the pony’s mane halfway deflated “Don’t get me wrong, the chocolate rain was fun and all but… well, you’ve been wrong about this stuff before Mazey, and there’s a lot of scared ponies here...”

Seeing the jubilant pony so hesitant shook Maze, but she remained steadfast. Twilight stepped forward to offer a more practical argument.

“Maze, Discord isn’t a conventional threat” the unicorn began “fighting him wasn’t like fighting Chrysalis or Nightmare Moon. If this goes wrong you can’t just swing a sword your at him, because by the time you try he’s already turned the ground beneath you to weasels or twisted your mind against your friends. Or both. I don’t think... No… We can’t do this Maze.”

Twilight met Maze’s resolute stare with her own, knowing she couldn’t do this without the Element’s cooperation. She blinked confused however when the human just shrugged with a lopsided smile.

“Hey that’s cool, I didn’t Really need you to free him anyway.” the group stood perplexed until a familiar titter chilled them to the bone.

“Ohohoho! Yes!” the gathered defenders all whipped their heads to the statue, having ignored it within the tunnel vision of the argument. There on the base sat the chaos spirit himself, hunched over with his chin in his hands watching the exchange as it if were a play. The next moment he was shooting off to coil about Maze, bringing the two face to face “Oh I do so love how deliciously devious you humans can be when you want to. One moment a caring friend and then not a second later the mask changes to the master manipulator… Ah, the chaos your kind does so naturally is just...”

“But, wha-...” several members of the group began to stammer as the draconequus gave an italian chef kiss to the air

“Belissimo!”

“HOW?!” Twilight Demanded when her shock waned.

“Oh please Twilight” Discord disappeared in a flash before appearing next to her, his arm draped across her shoulders “All it took last time was that trio of fillies having a little spat to let me loose. Meanwhile your little cybernetic betrayer over there has managed to get the whole town up in arms, all arguing over little ol’ me.”

“Betrayer might be a little strong…” Maze grumbled.

“Oh but you are the Bloodletter aren't you?” the chaos spirit slinked back up to the human “See now that one got a reaction. Perhaps you’re not such a natural when is comes to chaos... what with the unexpected so often getting the better of you...”

Maze matched Discord’s smug with a steady stare. This was a different tone than she- ...she sighed mentally ‘...than I had been expecting.’

Maze shot a side glance to the bearers, not as a signal but Maze knew better than to try and predict chaos... even with the knowledge of the show. Their element necklaces however were already glowing slightly in preparation.

“Oh will you all calm down” Discord straightened as his tone shifted to casually playful once more and emphasised “I’m in.”

Another wave of befuddled looks swept through the gathered ponies. Maze simply arched an eyebrow as Twilight asked.

“You’re in?”

“Yes! In for this whole little rebellion things of yours! It’ll certainly be more entertaining than doing nothing but listen as just another rock underground” the draconequus grumbled.

“Just like that?” Applejack asked.

“No dear Applejack not ‘just like that’...” Discord’s attitude grew irritated, for just a moment before brightening again “buuuut I know how this story goes, or at least how it’s supposed to go. It seems nice, so I’m willing to give it a shot… for now”

Maze’s brow furrowed as her eyes widened, piercing the chaos bringer with an exceptionally concerned look. His smirk however never wavered.

“Gotta love that ‘Ninja Magic’, eh Miss Displaced?” Discord winked at her and and turned on a heel to start strutting toward the town hall.

All the while humming a very familiar theme song…

“Is that about the sum of it Maisie?” Luna’s tone hand remained calm and even, the information delivered simply and matter of fact. Yet it couldn’t cover the almost accusatory note beneath the recounting.

“Um, Yeah! That’s uh, that’s about it!” Maze offered a little too enthusiastically with a shaky smile. This had hardly been the first time she’d been confronted about her knowledge, but it seemed Luna really meant business this time.

“I very much doubt that” Luna replied flatly “As your friends informed me, as Discord walked away he was humming a tune they had only heard once before. However it was during a very significant moment… when the psychic beneath the city was probing your minds, specifically yours.”

Maze didn’t answer, her eyes locked with the princesses. She folded first, her lips tightening as she broke the contact. Luna however, remained solid.

“There is also the fact that, from what else they’ve informed me of both during these recent inquiries and over the past several months, it would also seem that your knowledge of THIS era is far more specific than the vague understanding you had shown when you first arrived in this world.”

Again, Maze didn’t respond. The moment hung in the air, stretching until Luna asked directly,

“Did you know Celestia would be possessed?”

“No.”

The answer was given directly and without hesitation as Maze’s gaze snapped back to hers, sure and unwavering. The night princess processed and continued.

“...Did you know Sombra and Umbra would return?”

Maze didn’t answer as her eyes fell again. Luna’s narrowed.

“Did you know it would be now?”

Again, no answer. She only saw a minor tug at the corner of the humans mouth as her head almost imperceptibly tilted. She had seen the complete expression so many times she could still perfectly hear Maze’s ‘Well, not exactly...’ in her head.

In the past Maze’s ‘ninja magic’ knowledge was typically quite ambiguous; she knew of the princesses, of several other notable figures both current and historical, of the intent for Canterlot castle and its city and general knowledge one wouldn’t expect of what was basically a newly arrived alien. But while noteable, it was also imperfect. It failed against seer tests and never extended beyond the surprize that she already knew some small detail. But now, in this new age, even if it was sometime off or just wrong…

Luna’s expression grew almost angry.

“You know the future.”

It wasn’t a question.

Maze quickly opened her mouth to respond but hesitated, the breath coming out slow and defeated as her shoulders slumped.

“...no” she gave, still refusing to meet her gaze. Luna’s own head tilted as she studied the cyborg; it wasn’t a complete truth but nor was it a complete lie.

“Unsure or not Maze, it has become abundantly clear you have some kind of intimate knowledge of current and coming events” Luna accused “Yet you’ve seen fit to conceal it until useful for your own advantage.”

“It’s not like that-” Maze started.

“Then why keep it a secret Maze? Why leave the rest of us to the mercy of avoidable tragedy? Why not share these ‘Secrets of ninja magic’” she asked, growing more intense.

“I- I can’t Lu. It… It’s not...” Maze struggled.

“Can you not just trust us with it?” Luna asked, her tone now more hushed… and hurt.

“Can’t you just trust me?” the human that was her now oldest living friend other than her sister countered, catching her off guard. Shaking off the minor recoil, she regarded Maisie with softer eyes before finally letting go of a weary sigh and letting the tension drop.

“I trust your intentions Maze, but with this...” she paused “I fear I may not trust your judgement.”

“It’s not just mine” Maze said, but offered no further elaboration. A tired huff escaped the Princess before she rose.

“I must return to my duties. We will discuss this more later. Try to get some rest you two… no doubt you’ll be needed again soon enough” she began to make her way out of the ward, leaving behind the quiet cyborg and rather uncomfortable Twilight. She hesitated as a realization struck her however and, despite knowing she may not want the answer, she turned.

“...Did you know I would fall?”

It was barely a glance, but it was enough. The regret and sorrowful guilt shown in just the briefest meeting of their eyes was all the answer she needed. She exited without another word.

Maze buried her head in her hands before sliding them to the back of her neck, the image of Luna’s face, the pain of betrayal only half hidden under centuries of well practiced composure now burned into her mind.

She fell back into the pillow and just stared at the ceiling.

The rhythmic clacking of a high heeled stride echoed through the castle halls as the cyborg made her way toward the ballroom, the skirt of her puffy sleeved black dress giving a teasing bounce with every step as she followed the decorations and fake spider webs to their destination.

“And you’re sure you can still see well enough with that?” Twilight asked again before adjusting the armor of a royal guard costume that didn’t quite fit in her wheelchair. It had been just over a week since the human regained consciousness and, with a bit of convincing, the pair had been declared healthy enough to at least join the party.

“Well enough to see you almost hit Gil in the beak with your helmet plume” Maze’s grin shined below a layered blind cloth and the silver bob cut of her hair.

“Oh I’m sorry Gilbert!” Twilight spun to the armored Griffon pushing her along, almost hitting him again in the process.

“Not at all Miss Sparkle” the old soldier returned in good humor and a vaguely scottish accent. At least that’s how Maze heard it, she wasn’t sure what it was relative to Equestria. “It’s too bad Princess Celestia still hasn’t woken up for this...”

Twilight simply hummed in response and let her expression fall, as had become the norm whenever the princess was mentioned. Maze had gotten to know Twilight a good deal better during their past week stuck together but still hadn’t managed to broach the topic successfully yet. The moment passed almost instantly however when the mare brightened again.

“How is it that I always seem to get you as my guard, even after all this time and all your promotions? I’m sure somegriffon of your rank isn’t just assigned simple guard duty anymore” Twilight smiled back at him. Gilbert was one of the very few of the already small number of Griffon in Equestria to serve in the guard, and over time achieved quite the authority (and reputation) regardless of his species.

“I guess you’re just lucky Miss Sparkle.”

“Gilbert you’ve known me since I was a filly, call me Twilight” He was also one of Twilight’s old teachers.

“Sure thing Miss Sparkle.”

“Ugh!” Twilight rolled her eyes as Maze shared a chuckle with the vet. They quickly reached the great doors leading into the ballroom, opening to find a plethora of costumed ponies and even a few changelings mingling amongst far more elaborate decorations and samplings of spooky themed food and candies.

“Thank you Gilbert, I can use my crutches now” Twilight informed as she summoned a her walking aides.

“If you’re sure ma’am,” the griffon helped her stand and folded down the chair “I’ll be nearby if you need me.”

“There you are!” Lyra’s voice drew their attention to the nearest table. Next to it stood the Aquamarine mare done up in an over long lab coat and heavy goggles, her hair sticking up in almost electrified angles. A true mad scientist a-la Frankenstein with even there next to her, stood Bon-bon as her monster “Here!” she handed the newcomers each a wrapped box of custom candies. “Bonny made them!”

“Oh, so I finally get to find out how well earned that cutie mark is huh?” Maze teased.

“Well you certainly tried to peek at it enough...” Sweetie Drop returned bluntly, though not completely without humor.

“The Princess not back yet?” Twilight inquired looking around.

“Not yet, but the guards said she’s already on her why back with the others” Lyra explained. While Nightmare night had seemed to be only a Ponyville thing on the show, here it had spread across most of the kingdom and Luna had decided to make it a point to visit the place her now personal holiday had originated. Personally, Maze thought she had just grown fond of the town during her time running the resistance and wanted the excuse to celebrate there first.

“Come on, I think I saw the others back this way” Lyra led them away and they soon found the rest of cyborg’s band, save for Wolf who was currently escorting Luna and the rest of the Elements. Johnny was done up as a cardboard Metal Gear RAY while Crystal and Trixie appeared to have just dressed as eachother for their costumes; the changeling was wearing the unicorn’s signature hat and cape while the mage was sporting some very gothic fashion and a jagged cover over her horn. The dyed burgundy hair didn’t do her coat’s natural blue many favors, though if any of them had to guess, the showmare didn’t mind the extra attention.

“Yeah, it was Crystal's idea. Amber’s actually also around here somewhere dressed as you” Trixie responded to Maze’s amused look.

“Really?” she asked surprised just before horns blared all around the room.

“Announcing the Matron of this darkest of nights, Queen Nightmare Moon!” a stallion called boisterously over the crowd as the corrupted persona of the night princess appeared in a blaze a black flame… before quickly reverting to her natural form to start calming all the now slightly panicked ponies nearest to her.

“Hmmm, that went over better in Ponyville” from seemingly nowhere the voice of Pinkie Pie was just suddenly in the middle of the group, along with the rest of her. Not a moment later she glomped onto Twilight “Twilight! Happy Nightmare Night!”

“Hi Pinkie” Twilight laugh as she returned the hug of her unpredictable friend, the other Element’s now joining the group through the more conventional means of walking up “Hey girls.”

The group mingled amongst themselves, sharing anecdotes of their weeks and earlier in the night until the Princess herself made her way over to them with Wolf, a large pair of bunny ears on his head to match the cotton puff skewered on the end of his tail. Maze glanced over to Fluttershy, who just smiled back sheepishly.

“It’s wonderful to see you back on your hooves Twilight, even if not quite completely yet” the princess smiled at her sister’s pupil, obviously enjoying her night. Her smile barely fluttered when she looked to Maze even. While she hadn’t been avoiding her, Luna had been rather notably... formal with the cyborg ever since their conversation “I’m sorry you were not able to make it back to Ponyville, but am glad you were able to make it to the ball. I was in fact hoping to talk to you about something, and to you as well Miss Lulamoon.”

“Me Princess?” Trixie stood straighter.

“Yes, it came to my attention over the last months that while you’re both quite adept in magic in general, your combat abilities and knowledge, particularly your physical prowess in that realm is… well simply put, lacking” the pair shuffled in place a bit “Now while your magic should be enough usually, it certainly does not hurt to have other options available. So I would like to invite you to partake in the rest of Rarity’s lessons to help improve upon those deficiencies.”

“Wait, the rest of her lessons?” Trixie interrupted turning to the bearer of Generosity “Is your apprenticeship almost over already?”

“Oh I’m not an actual apprentice Darling, just temporary student” Rarity returned “Her majesty simply noticed how I had, shall we say, ‘fallen behind’ the other bearers in certain areas and offered to teach me.”

“I am well aware the study of greater magics is not Rarity’s calling and I would never wish to interfere with a pony's chosen path. I merely felt I could provide guidance in achieving the skills more accustomed to or even expected of those that wield the Elements; such as the ability to fight beyond what it granted by their harmonious boons. So no, she is not a long term student. Though...” Luna elaborated before regarding the stagemare more directly “I have certainly seen a potential and drive for such endeavors in you Miss Lulamoon. Should you wish to continue your studies beyond these initial lessons, I would be happy to be the one to guide you.”

“Are you… are you asking if I want to be your apprentice?” Trixie asked slowly, weary of any misconceptions.

“Yes, if you are interested” Luna answered simply.

“I-uh.. um-YEAH! -er, I mean, Yes. Yes of course Princess, I’d be honored!” Trixie fumbled out, eyes wide and almost scared.

“Excellent!” Luna smiled warmly “And will you be joining us Miss Sparkle? When you’re well enough of course.”

“Oh, uh yes, if you think it could help Princess then of course. I mean you know me, always up for more studying.”

“Well it will certainly be more than simply studying Twilight but you will find out soon enough. Now my apologies but it would seem my self-indulgent entrance still has some of the guests a bit nervous, so if you would please excuse me.” Luna disengaged the group with well wishes. Maze tried to not let the fact she barely made eye contact bother her, so her instead focused on on the dazed unicorn in their midst.

“Looks like someone just got ‘hand-picked-by-a-prin-cess’!” Maze leaned in with a shit eating grin, earning a giggle from the gathered ponies.

“Guess she can’t toss that one at you anymore, huh?” Lyra nudged her old classmate.

“Well at least there’s that” Twilight agreed with a small shrug but then offered in full earnestly “Congratulations Trixie, you earned it.”

“Oh uh, yeah thanks…” Trixie mumbled staring off into the void, still a bit too stunned to even register that the comment came from her rival. She seemed to snap out of it finally at a sudden realization “You don’t Trixie’s fans will mutiny over more limited tours do you?”

The group burst out laughing as the cyborg draped an arm around the mare’s shoulders and hugged her close.

“Oh Trix, never chang-” She froze as a warning from the IG network flashed on her HUD, earning a a hushed “No...”

“What?” somepony asked worriedly as every guard in the room suddenly tensed.

“Something’s coming.”

Not moment after the screech of the city’s remaining RAY called out before the party goers witnessed its plasma beam streak pass outside.

“GET DOWN!” the guards shouted an instant before the windows shattered with several winged forms bursting through. Blinding flashes stunned any onlookers and the room filled with noxious smoke, scattering the inhabitants in all directions.

“TWILIGHT!” the wielder of Magic heard just before a blur dove between her and a silhouette raising a weapon. She summoned a barrier before the body between them slammed into her as a heavy shot rang out and flew straight through the magic protection. She pushed up as much as she could to see a masked griffon pump the weapon and walk right through the barrier like it wasn’t even there. The shield destabilized completely as the assailant brought the gun to bear, the downed mare’s eye slamming shut against the flash erupting before her.

“AUGH!” something warm splattered against her face as the shot went wide. Her eyes flew back open in time to the see the top and bottom half of her would be assassin slide apart, cut clean through diagonally and falling away to reveal the ninja cyborg behind. Twilight caught the sight of a shadow erupting from the smoke behind her.

“Maze!” she shouted but the human rounded on the threat a moment too late, her attacker’s blade an inch from her before the side of their face exploded with the rapport of a rifle. She looked to the injured griffon clutching his weapon in one claw and the bleeding hole in his armor with the other. He tried to push his way off Twilight only to fall back as she started casting a healing spell.

“Careful Lass! These are Griffon Tengu! Not to be underestimated!” he shouted at the cyborg before his gaze drifted, looking lost “I don’t understand though, we’re allies…”

On the other side of the ballroom, Luna was having her own troubles in the form of a half dozen assassins. She sent a shockwave out as she covered the retreating guests only for the elite troops to bearly stumble. She could feel the magic just break against them like nothing more than a breeze.

“DARKSTONE!” the Canterlot voice sounded over all the commotion “USE INDIRECT MAGICS!”

Leading by example, the floor beneath her opponents took on the moon guider’s aura and ripped free, rocketing its passengers straight into the ceiling. One yet managed to roll off before impact though and took aim back down at the alicorn, her horn flaring as the tables surrounding her took on her glow as well.

However before either could act the smoke scattered in an instant and while the ammo remained, the rest of the assailants’ weapons simply disappeared in a flash.

“I’m all for party crashing but this…” the familiar tone of a draconequus filled the air, the spirit of chaos drifting down as he surveyed his surroundings. The conflict had only lasted all of a minute yet injured and dead now littered the floor as the rest of the guests cowered under tables or still stood ready against attack. Taking on an almost disgusted tone Discord finished “This is just poor form.”

The remaining griffons slowly backed away and those airborne drifting to the ground, save for one with a distinguishing stripe across his gear and helmet. With a shared glance to the leader above, the disarmed special forces all straightened, dropping all semblance of resistance.

“FOR GRIFFONSTONE!” they all shouted and clicked their beaks beneath their masks. The next thing anyone knew they had all fallen to the ground, convulsing violently with the sounds of gargled choking.

“For Griffonstone” the leader repeated above before clicking his own beak. Unlike the others however, his convulsions didn’t make him fall. He instead kept aloft somehow without even a beat of his wings. Then, he began to glow.

The crowd gasped as he abruptly burst into emerald flames and his entire being burned away, leaving behind the sparkling particles of nano magic. The cloud of sparks slowly gathered to form the image of another, far more regal Griffon.

“That’s the king…” Maze heard Gilbert mutter from next to her. She didn’t have time to consider the meaning before a booming voice nearly overwhelmed her, overshadowing even Luna’s own Canterlot voice.

IF YOU ARE SEEING THIS THEN OUR ATTEMPT TO END THIS QUICKLY HAS FAILED! BUT DO NOT MISTAKE THIS FOR THE END! EQUESTRIA IS GUILTY OF TOO MANY CRIMES IT HAS NOT ANSWERED FOR! TOO MANY AGGRESSIONS UNPROVOKED! TOO MANY THREATS UNCONTAINED!

The magic rearranged itself to now take a new shape, that of a changeling woman Maze didn’t recognize.

“Queen Miasma?” Crystal asked rhetorically before a new feminine voice replaced the first

FIRST THE RETURN OF THE LIVING NIGHTMARE AND RESTORING HER RULE! THEN THE ESCAPE OF THE BLOODLETTER, MENACE OF THE SYNTHETIC WARS! AND NOW THE INTENTIONAL RELEASE OF THE CHAOS GOD HIMSELF!

Again the figure changed to a hulking minotaur.

ALL ATTEMPTS AT NEGOTIATIONS REJECTED! ALL WARNINGS OF DANGER IGNORED! NO EXPLANATIONS! NO SAFEGUARDS OR ASSURANCES! AND NOW THE CORRUPTION OF THE SOLAR PRINCESS HERSELF!? THIS CANNOT STAND!

Now a different Changeling queen.

FOR TOO LONG HAVE WE SAT IDLY BY AS THE ASTRAL BODIES LAY IN THE CONTROL OF THOSE NOT WORTHY OF THE RIGHT! THOSE THAT USE THEM AS LEVERAGE, THREATS, WEAPONS OR JUST THEIR OWN PLAYTHINGS! THE HEAVENS BELONG TO ALL!

The magic rapidly shifted between all its previous forms before mixing into and twisted amalgamation of them all and every voice shouted together.

The energy shifted one last time, expanding to form the massive head of a very ancient looking dragon, that calmly stated:

The audience stood silent, not even daring to move as the particles dispersed.

Until the small utterance from a familiar voice.

...

“So that’s a thing...”

Author's Notes:

Ugh... I REALLY wanted to get this out yesturday, then I would have at least pulled off half of my new year's resolution for last year (Finish at least act 1 for both my stories) but oh well, guess one more day isn't too bad... though I suppose had I managaed to keep up the pace I wanted I could have easily passed it...

SO! THIS year's resolution will be to finish at least act THREE of this story by the end of the year, as well as Locked Heart to make up for it! I'll also do my damnest to get Fuse (the Parasite Eve, non-displaced crossover I've been working on) started too!

...hopefully

But there you have it readers! Act One FINALLY done! Stay tuned for the hopefully soon start of act two. I have decided to keep all the acts in one story, as opposed to sequels with separate pages- just for simplicity's sake. So don't worry about finding it, just stay tuned here and it'll come

But until then readers, as always: Thank you so very much for reading and I hope to see you for the next chapter! Have a good one