“Unfulfilled?” Twilight muttered.

She gazed down from atop the keep, her gaze fixing on the floating golden unicorn levitating a few feet off the ground. The strange creature’s great flaming wings singed the ground, burning away any vegetation that grew nearby. The heat was enough that even the defenders kept their distance, glancing about themselves in search of an order.

There was no time for a command to be barked, for the unicorn was already rising into the air. The bright yellow miasma spilling out of her shot out in all directions, seeking out the fallen soldiers as well as the inactive golems. This alien energy gathered amongst the fallen, suffusing their bodies in a golden glow that slowly became brighter.

Twilight saw that someone had yelled an order, as the various defenders were attempting to attack Tempest Shadow. Bolts both magical and otherwise were loosed at the levitating unicorn, but neither hit their mark. The more mundane of the two were incinerated while those made of magic were pulled apart by an unseen hand.

Others were stabbing at or otherwise attempting to destroy anything that had begun to glow a bright gold. The attacks hit but didn't seem to matter, as the energy continued to wind about the broken forms unimpeded. Teams began to split off, and a specialist mage was called over when Tempest Shadow’s ethereal horn pulsed with magic.

Golems brought down when their pilot died lurched back up and began a mad sprint toward their new master. Those in greater states of disrepair did the same, limping, crawling, or pulling themselves with whatever limbs they had left. Even broken limbs followed suit, along with hunks of rock that tumbled forward, pushed along by some unknown force.

The fallen soldiers similarly limped, crawled, or scrambled toward their former commander, ignoring the wounds that had killed them. They also paid no mind to anyone or anything that got in their way, shouldering through whatever stood between them and their target. Like their golem counterparts, the various pieces hewn from their body reacted as well, ambling toward Tempest Shadow as best as they could.

Even the blood that pooled in low places, or brains that had been dashed from the skull of some unfortunate soul reacted, sliding, pulsing, and swimming across the ground despite the apparent impossibility of such strange locomotion. The defenders attempted to stop both the soldiers and their golem allies, but they were utterly ignored.

No wound could slow them, and no injury was enough to give them pause. Even when crushed flat, the various pieces left behind by the attack simply continued on, heedless to their main body’s destruction. Those who attempted to restrain the pieces or the dead found themselves pulled along for the ride no matter how strong they were. The golden glow had given the corpses strength beyond strength, but only for one purpose, one singular goal.

To reach Tempest Shadow no matter the cost.

Twilight wasn't sure what exactly was happening, nor was she interested in finding out before she recalled her friends. With a tug and a spark of magic, she activated the bangle that she bore on her right forehoof. After a moment of faint vibration, it activated with a flash of white, blinding the distracted unicorn.

“Where are we- oh my,” Rarity whispered.

“That's not good,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“What do we do?” asked Fluttershy.

“Great, I get to kill that stupid golem a second time!” Pinkie Pie proclaimed.

“You don't think she's bringin’ them back, do ya?” Applejack remarked.

Twilight shook her head. “I know necromancy, and that's not it. I don't know what…”

Twilight's jaw hung open, and she stared down in confusion at the mass of stone and flesh twisting beneath her. Tempest Shadow levitated high above the ground, while directly under her the various golems and soldiers gathered. Though perhaps a more correct word to use would be coagulated.

For when they reached the designated spot beneath their former commander, they threw themselves at one another. Bodies were pulped, armor shattered, and stone cracked, breaking apart before beginning to rapidly spin within a golden tornado. Heedless to their own destruction, the various soldiers of the sun threw themselves into the maelstrom and were undone.

“What the…” Twilight muttered.

The defenders could only look in muted horror as every last soldier they had killed and golem destroyed plunged into the tornado. Which grew with each new addition, becoming wide enough to almost swallow the nearby bunker while also growing to three stories in height. Protected by a golden aura, the mass began to twist and shift, gaining a more cohesive shape.

“It's horrible,” Fluttershy whispered.

The sentiment expressed by the dryad was one shared by all who gazed upon the completed abomination. Standing nearly thirty feet long, the thing was mostly snake-like, though it sported two large hands that sprouted just below its head. A head that resembled a crocodile, with a long snout filled with hundreds of long metal teeth.

Its main bulk was made up of the golems’ stones, while the flesh of the soldiers had been used to bind it all together. The enchanted metal armor used to protect the formerly living knights was then spread out and used to protect these many joints. The numerous blades wielded by the invaders had been repurposed and now served as both claws as well as fangs.

The enormous creature flexed its new body and reared back, its eyes suddenly flaring to life with a harsh, uncaring golden light. Releasing a roar that sounded like the cry of a thousand agonizing souls, the beast grappled the side of the keep with its great arms. It then surged upward, while its master landed atop its head, a wide grin splitting the mare’s features like an axe blow.

“It's coming right at us!” Fluttershy cried.

“Maybe we should get some backup?” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“Hold fast,” Twilight declared while charging across the keep rooftop alongside her friends. “She’s revealed her ace, and we’ve drawn out the true master. Use cooperation, and together we will best this abomination as well as its controller!”

The six assembled on the other side just as the creature ascended to the top floor, its enormous hands digging into the stonework. As the twisted melding of flesh and stone pulled itself upward, the friends reached deep within themselves, calling forth an ancient power. Creation buckled and flexed as they spoke cooperation, invoking a fundamental part of reality in a way few understood.

In response a rainbow of energy coalesced out of nowhere and wrapped itself around them, raising them into the air. Troll, undead, arachne, and otherwise all found their senses alleviated and spread across one another. Suddenly they were no longer six individuals working together, but a single entity brought together by harmony itself.

Not only did they feel their consciousness open itself to each other, but they could also feel a strange power fill them. Muscles bulged, aches and pains vanished, while magic reserves became seemingly bottomless. As the rainbow dissipated, their forms sparkled, and the bangles they wore gained strange and unintended features.

None had the time to inspect their altered jewelry, however, as the creature had pulled itself fully to the top. The roof, too small to support the entirety of the thing, had half collapsed under the weight of the monster. The rest of its bulk wrapped about the upper layer of the keep, securely anchoring it to the structure.

Tempest Shadow raised a hoof and with a flash of her horn, created a barrier around the impromptu battlefield. Thick enough to keep even an angry dragon at bay, it cut the group off from their reinforcements and any attempt to escape. Not like the six made any attempt to remove themselves from the creature’s presence.

“You should have run,” Tempest declared in a deep, alien voice. “But then again, you have always been an irrational,agent of chaos.”

“Just because I do not blindly follow you doesn't mean I am irrational,” Twilight retorted.

“I am order incarnate, you wicked knave!” bellowed the unicorn with enough force to send small stones skittering across the rooftop. “I am harmony, I am goodness, I am civilization itself. To stand against me is to advocate barbarism, disunity, and evil.”

“You should get your eyes checked, lady! You’re supposed to be able to see in more shades than just black and white!” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“There is nothing I do not see, nothing that I do not perceive, save for why you stand as allies of death,” spat the glowing golden unicorn.

With her angry declaration came a sudden attack, the creature’s tail swinging in from behind with murderous intent. Rainbow Dash felt the sudden spatial disturbance far in advance, and though no words were spoken, Applejack reacted. Roots dug into the roof, and she spun around, her wooden armor growing so thick that the creature beneath was no longer visible.

When the tail struck, it hit only the titanic living bulwark that was the apple farmer, her body unmoved by the attack. The limb attempted to pull back in order to strike again later but Rainbow Dash was faster still. With an unnaturally keen blade, the thestral struck hard, cutting through the stone, bone, and metal alike.

Tempest shrieked in pain and confusion, the sound utterly drowned out by the bellow of rage from the creature below her. The last dozen or so feet of its tail lay removed on the rooftop, flopping directionlessly in an effort to seek out its main body. Pinkie Pie leaped atop it before it could get far, and with a chomp, bit off a chunk and caused the energy within to rapidly oscillate inside.

A gargantuan hand grabbed the tail before another attack could be launched by the angry troll. Out of harm's reach, the removed chunk was reabsorbed by the greater whole, becoming an extra digit on its hand. Tempest was not quick to attack a second time, eying the six before her intently, scanning for weaknesses.

The defenders knew that the balance of power had shifted, and so went on the attack before their foe could adjust. Rainbow Dash leaped into the air, shooting like a rocket directly at the possessed unicorn standing atop her mount. Though Rainbow was fast, almost blindingly so, Tempest somehow conjured another barrier between herself and the thestral.

One which shattered upon the keen-edged blade hitting it, absorbing some of the kinetic energy, but not all of it. Startled, but not completely surprised, Tempest pumped more mana into her glowing aura, heating it up even more. Forced back, Rainbow Dash made one last rude gesture before rolling off to the side and rejoining her friends.

Who had not been idle in that time. Applejack had taken a stance in the front, serving as a potent bulwark against the creature. Pinkie Pie leaped upon the beast and bit out chunks of its stony form, chewing them up until they were little more than gravel. When she spat out the mix, it was inert and no longer responded to its former master’s call to reform once more.

Even Rarity and Fluttershy were lending what aid they could, though the arachne’s help was different from the others. Her critical eye was turned to a more offensive purpose and was scanning the creature for signs of movement. Each twitch and spasm may have seemed random to most, but in her heightened state, Rarity read its intentions like a book. Without speaking, she relayed what she discovered to Applejack, allowing her to adjust exactly as required.

Fluttershy initially thought herself useless and unable to offer much to her friends, but found anger burning hot inside herself. She felt the rage of a mother bear when her cubs were threatened and grew until she physically resembled that feeling. Standing tall alongside Applejack, Fluttershy used her great paws to swat down any attack launched her way.

All the while Twilight stood at the back, coordinating, planning, and when the time came, firing a spell of her own. Right as Rainbow Dash fell back, the undead unicorn released her magic, imbuing it with murderous intent. A suffocating miasma of heavy poison-filled clouds gathered around Tempest’s body, obscuring the caster from sight. Twilight knew her attack struck true as it would not be dissuaded by pure heat alone. Not only that, but it would rob the breath of any in the radius, causing their concentration to waver and break.

Only the attack didn't seem to have the effect she had intended, as a moment later it was forcibly dissipated by a counterspell. Revealing that not only Tempest Shadow was unharmed, but she didn't seem bothered by the sudden lack of oxygen. The poison which should have been inhaled had either been negated or ignored despite the apparent impossibility of such an action.

Despite the failure of her attack, Twilight continued to build magic for another, far from ready to give up. Her friends felt similarly, none letting up their attack for even a moment, despite how little they were accomplishing. Pinkie Pie’s bites were large, but the creature was larger. Rainbow Dash’s blade struck true, but only cut it into smaller pieces. Applejack and Fluttershy were able to hit back a few times, but they barely dented the massive creature’s body.

Worse still for the valiant defenders, Tempest Shadow used the distance she had gained to refocus herself. Her horn flashed, and a lance of energy attempted to swat Rainbow Dash from the sky. Rarity had seen the subtle turn of the possessed mare’s head as well as the flick of her eyes and urged Rainbow Dash out of the path.

The follow-up attempts similarly did little, as under Rarity’s guidance none were surprised by them. Applejack sidestepped when possible, and conjured a wall of iron hardwood when she couldn't. Fluttershy morphed, shifting into an insect, or something so small that the beam could not hit her. Twilight was quick to send out her spirit and reform her body before the spell could land, the mare silently thanking Rarity for her efforts. Pinkie Pie was the only one who required no help, as she was always one step ahead, weaving through the creature and its master’s attacks.

Over and over the six harried their foes, landing blow after blow while taking none in return. Every swipe of the creature’s great hands was brushed aside, while Tempest Shadow’s magic was similarly avoided. Meanwhile, Twilight noticed that an audience watched their fight, protected under a dome of magic conjured by Cadance. Within sat nearly every last defender still able to lift a weapon, while those who couldn't hurriedly evacuated the dead or wounded.

Twilight didn't pay much attention to them, however, her mind constantly awhirl with possibilities and plans. One of which was employed when she saw an opening and blasted Tempest with a flurry of bolts made of the most vile poison she could imagine. Absorbed through the skin, it would paralyze any living creature with a single beat of the target’s heart.

Sure enough, the attacks hit, their lethal payloads protected by a layer of magic that negated fire. Tempest avoided the majority, using her new wings to fly over them, though she couldn't dodge all of them. Two lucky bolts grazed her barrel, delivering more than enough of the stuff to kill the unfortunate unicorn.

This time when Tempest didn't die, or even seem to notice, Twilight was not surprised, but rather suspicious. She began to wonder how much Celestia’s aura protected the unicorn it inhabited, though that thought process was interrupted. A silent urge from Rarity prompted Twilight to leap to the ground just in time to dodge a swipe of the creature’s tail.

Again Applejack moved to block, but that was exactly what the creature was hoping for as its fist was already descending. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the farmer silently trusted her comrades in arms and was not disappointed. Fluttershy rose up, becoming a great ursa, and protecting her friend from the crushing hand descending down on her.

Rainbow Dash too trusted Fluttershy, and so when the limb was caught, she was already descending. Sword flashing brightly, she cut through the thing’s captured hand, the blade slicing metal and stone with remarkable ease. Fluttershy pulled hard, ripping the limb away and allowing Pinkie Pie the opportunity to assault it.

The troll’s furious blows and powerful bites removed a finger and nearly a second before Tempest Shadow responded. A wave of scorching white flames emanated from the pony and rippled in all directions, intent on filling the dome completely. Everyone on the attack abandoned what they had been doing and fell back, regrouping beneath a protective Fluttershy.

The ursa major shifted right as the flames hit, becoming an enormous pangolin whose hardened exterior took the blow. After the fire faded, and Fluttershy returned to her normal shape, the dryad collapsed, parts of her back now smoking. Rarity pulled forth a thread and wove it into a protective bandage which she wrapped around her friend’s barrel.

Already Fluttershy could feel her body healing, her injuries shrinking, and her will to fight returning. She would still require time, however, time which her friends were eager to give by striking back. Rainbow Dash was first to raise her blade in Fluttershy’s defense, diving towards Tempest now that the unicorn’s fire barrier was temporarily down.

The flash of enhanced steel nearly caught Tempest by surprise, the pony struggling to avoid the blade. Then came another, and another, and another, all in the blink of an eye, and all intent on killing the possessed unicorn. Despite the speed and strength behind the swipes, Tempest was able to stay ahead of each but only with the aid of her creature.

Fresh from having its hand fuse back with the rest of its body, the beast swiped up at Rainbow Dash, giving its master a moment of respite. Which she used to reform her heat shield and launch a fireball down at the group below her. An attack that Pinkie Pie ate out of mid-air, the shaman landing and immediately launching into a strange dance. One which ended with the troll throwing her head back and firing back that same ball of fire from her mouth.

The strange pink orb exploded when it hit the snake creature’s hand, the flickering bubblegum flames turning to sticky paste when it cooled. Temporarily struck by the strangeness of it all, Twilight saw another opening, and without a word being spoken, set another plan in motion. One which began with Applejack growing a long whiplike extension of green and using it to grapple the pink arm.

Fluttershy, now no longer distracted by her injury, leaped in to help, becoming an enormous ape and grabbing the whip. Together the two were able to pull the limb down and out of the way, allowing Rainbow Dash to surge forward, blade in hoof. She moved so fast that to the average person she was merely a blur, but even then, Tempest could still see her coming.

A blast of magic knocked the pegasus out of the sky, her body coming apart to reveal that she was a mere shadow. Midnight Moon reformed in the shade granted by Twilight's body, her distraction complete and job done. The real Rainbow Dash came in from a completely different angle, intent on removing Tempest’s head from her shoulders.

Forced into a desperate position and unable to call upon her servant, the commander made a snap decision. Pushing all of her energy into another fire wave directed at the diving pegasus, she forced the thestral to swerve away. She also inadvertently dropped her barrier and allowed the true attack to strike from a foe she had not anticipated.

A beam of concentrated necromantic energy lashed out across the battlefield, hitting the possessed unicorn square in the chest. The twisting magic was strong enough to sap the life from a beast ten times her mass, and kill creatures resilient to most other magic. Rather than slay the target, Tempest’s body shimmered, and several small wounds healed completely in a matter of seconds. The only negative effect came from how the golden energy suffusing the mare retreated from the point of impact.

“What, where?” Tempest muttered.

Twilight lashed out with her magic, connecting her to the undead pony whose great golden wings flickered in and out of existence. Once that line between the two was made, Twilight, having recalled her lessons, commanded Tempest to stop what she was doing. The command, spoken with more authority than any of Celestia’s words, was immediately heeded by Tempest, though she knew not why.

Bowing her head, she was about to step off her mount when the golden magic surged back across her body. Sharp tendrils of energy dug into Tempest’s body, stopping her dead in her tracks and causing a confused look to cross her face. An expression that was replaced with agony when the golden magic glowed even brighter than ever before.

A resplendent mask coalesced in front of Tempest’s face, obscuring her features and replacing it with an expressionless facade. Her mouth became a simple line, while her eyes were replaced by twin beams of the purest white. The rest of her body was similarly obscured by the golden light, becoming an armor of magic that left not a single patch of flesh visible.

This time it was the six’s turn to be confused, though again that expression turned into one of pain. The creature, now with a renewed sense of vigor, ripped its hand back, nearly dragging Fluttershy and Applejack right off the building. The pair was able to recover in time, but could do nothing but watch as Rainbow Dash was swatted from the sky by a dozen tiny fireballs detonating in mid-air.

When she landed, Rarity was quick to wrap the burnt sections of flesh, but had to abandon her bandaging a moment later. The sudden swipe of a tail was only narrowly avoided by Pinkie Pie who body-checked both arachne and thestral out of the way. Twilight reformed out of its path, only to find herself the target of two enormous stone and metal fists that were descending upon her.

Snapping off one final spectral teleportation, the unicorn reformed in mid-air, the ground having been destroyed. The entire roof had collapsed, the aged timber shattering beneath the titanic creature’s incredible rage. Rainbow Dash, though wounded, was able to carry Applejack down safely to the next floor, dropping her among the others. Fluttershy flew, Rarity scrambled down the wall, and Pinkie Pie performed what some may consider a superhero landing.

Twilight arrested her fall by reforming amidst the debris and immediately looked up at the creature above her. The snake-like abomination gripped the half-crumbled walls of the story above them, its master standing tall atop its head. Appearing for all like a flaming golden alicorn, not a speck of Tempest Shadow was visible anymore.

Twilight nodded to her friends, one of her back-up plans being put into motion by the sudden loss of the floor. Thankfully the one beneath them had not collapsed as well, though the landscape was significantly more treacherous. Littered with broken beams, shattered wood, and a few splintered supports, it would make maneuverability difficult.

They didn't need to move far, however, as the group formed up around Twilight and took defensive stances. Fluttershy became an ursa once more, while Applejack grew a great tower shield upon her right forehoof. Rarity readied more healing webs, while Pinkie Pie began another shamanistic dance. It was only Rainbow Dash that still attacked, throwing hunks of debris at the possessed unicorn in hopes of distracting her.

The shattered bits of wood never made it to her, however, as they were incinerated by her white-hot aura. A field that pulsed rapidly, a flurry of tiny stars shooting down upon the six friends gathered beneath her. The small but powerful explosions ignited every surface they touched, save for Applejack’s shield which repelled the hated fire successfully.

Fluttershy raised up sections of what had once been the floor, using it as a shield and giving Pinkie Pie the time she needed. A moment later, the shaman completed her ritual by pulling a tiny cloud from her mane and stomping it flat beneath her hoof. The second she did, a rainstorm suddenly swept over the area, bathing everything in angry precipitation.

Though the possessed unicorn was forced to turn her attention to banishing the offending weather, her servant remained on task. Its fists flew down at whatever target it could reach, and though it either missed or had its attack blocked, the creature’s tail was lucky. The drill-like appendage surged through the wall and knocked Rarity clear off her legs, forcing Pinkie Pie to go help her.

Twilight saw this all and did not respond, her attention focused entirely on the connection she still had with Tempest. The necromancer knew from experience with her timberwolves what it was like when they attempted to rebel. This wasn't quite the same, however, as Twilight could sense that Tempest both desired to do as Celestia ordered and wanted to push back at the same time.

That second urge was more primal, rooted not in the pony’s conscious mind but somewhere deeper. In the memories and experiences of the past came an almost wrathful need to resist Celestia in any way possible. It was there that Twilight knew victory would be found, and it was with this in mind that Twilight made her second order.

Remember, Twilight demanded. Remember what you were.

Above them, Tempest Shadow suddenly went rigid, her body contorting as a flood of memories coursed through her. A flood upon which Twilight found herself an unfortunate sailor, tossed by the tempestuous waves of another’s mind. Reality swam and suddenly fell away until all at once her hooves landed upon the cold stone of a castle’s battlements.

“Announcing Queen of the Storm Lands, Fizzlepop Berrytwist, and the Storm King!” proclaimed a voice.

Fizzlepop Berrytwist snickered and leaned in the direction of her husband, a towering bipedal creature. “You’d think they’d just use your name, or at least refer to me just as the Storm Queen,” whispered the unicorn.

“Old habits die hard, and besides, Storm King is cooler than Klavis,” whispered the Storm King in a low voice.

The royal couple smiled and waved at the somewhat confused, but appreciative subjects standing on the docks. Numbering only twenty, they were mostly civilians wandering around and enjoying the evening air with their children. They were also mostly creatures of the storm: the hairy, hunched-back bipeds with grey coats and bushy white manes. Other races could also be seen, like minotaurs, griffons, thestrals, and more, though they were in the minority.

“Please, relax everyone,” called the Storm King. “We are merely here for the same reason you all are. To enjoy the setting sun and partake in a bit of ice cream.”

“We were trying to have a nice date night, Grubber,” Fizzlepop Berrytwist added, glaring down at the short creature of the storm with a bugle tucked under one arm.

“Oh, uh, whoopsie,” murmured the diminutive male.

“Just... go enjoy the sights, my friend. I’ll call you when we are ready to go,” Klavis offered.

Grubber bobbed his head eagerly before scampering away, quickly vanishing amidst the crowd. Among which stood Twilight, the ghostly mare following after the royal couple as they trotted down the boardwalk. Unseen and unnoticed by any present, Twilight quickly surmised that she was in a memory, a much-beloved one at that.

Before her walked a very different mare than the antagonist she had been fighting for what felt like forever. For one she still had a horn and lacked the scars that crisscrossed her features in a startling frequency. Her scarlet mane fell over one side of her face, while her tail was long enough to brush the ground.

She wore dark regalia made up of black shoe and a peytral that hung about her neck. The heavy jewelry had a sliver hue to it, and in the center was a circular blue gem inside of which raged a caged storm. Nude, save for her regalia, Twilight could see that Fizzlepop Berrytwist sported a cutie mark depicting some strange frothing pink drink that had a pair of sparklers sticking out of it.

Her partner was also quite strange, his features more angular than the storm creatures Twilight had seen so far. Unlike the others, the Storm King did not have a hunched back or the long gangly limbs of his cousins. He also had a pair of gnarled black horns with faint teal lines crisscrossing them that grew from his brow.

His eyes also glowed a faint teal, and two tusk-like teeth sprouted from his prominent lower jaw. More regal, intelligent, and almost royal-looking, the Storm King wore a bulky black breastplate upon which teal horns had been painted. The bit of armor seemed to be the only mark of office he had, save for the long gnarled grey staff he wielded in his right hand.

The Storm King and Fizzlepop Berrytwist trotted down the dock until they reached an ice cream vendor. Together they ordered and continued on, then sat down at a bench at the very end of the long wooden structure. Before she joined them, Twilight took a moment to pause and glance back at the city she instinctively knew was behind her.

The great island metropolis stretched from the sea all the way up a nearby mountain, its black stone pillars rising high into the air. Great walls protected the entire thing, while dark-sailed boats sat in wait, ready to be launched at a moment's notice. It was grand, populated by nearly every race imaginable, and had to be ignored for the moment, Twilight reminded herself.

She hastily scampered after her charge, taking only a moment to inspect a strange and distant phenomenon. Upon the edge of the world, just barely within the range of her sight, was what looked like a titanic storm. Only this one wrapped about the entirety of the horizon, seemingly enshrouding the entire island in its embrace.

“Do you remember the day we met?” Fizzlepop Berrytwist asked. “Because I sure do.”

“How could I forget?” Klavis replied with a chuckle. “You charged up to me in the middle of a parade and demanded my hand in marriage.”

“I may have been a bit too brash,” Fizzlepop Berrytwist admitted, pausing to take a lick of her pink ice cream.

“It was endearing and bold, just like you,” Klavis stated.

“Yet you still set me on that quest,” Fizzlepop Berrytwist pointed out.

“I mean, could you blame me? You were holding up the entire event, and I had to get things going again,” Klavis explained.

“But to say that you would only entertain the notion should I return with twelve barrels of your favorite foreign beer was a bit much, don't you think?” Fizzlepop Berrytwist retorted.

“You did it, didn't you? You navigated the tempest not once, but twice, and earned a date with a king to boot,” Klavis stated.

Fizzlepop Berrytwist sighed. “I suppose.”

“But we’ve discussed this a dozen times before. What brings it to your mind now all of a sudden?” Klavis inquired.

“The white sails were spotted again,” Fizzlepop Berrytwist remarked, gesturing vaguely to the horizon.

“We will repel them, as we always have,” Klavis declared. “Few can pass through the great barrier unscathed. A feat no army is capable of unless they have the Storm Staff.”

Fizzlepop Berrytwist glanced at the seemingly normal stick her husband held aloft.

“I know,” she muttered. “But I was a soldier of hers once, in a different life. What if they use some kind of magic on me?”

“That won't happen,” Klavis declared.

“But-”

“Butts are for sitting,” Klavis interrupted.

Fizzlepop Berrytwist leaned against the male, a soft smile crossing her face. “You're right. We’ve overcome so much already. I’m certain that so long as we stand together as a couple, we’ll be able to face anything that life throws at us.”

Twilight's vision swam the moment the final word was spoken. It reformed a moment later, coalescing into the interior of a strange castle. Seated across from an open balcony, that overlooked the entire city and the sea beyond, was the royal couple.

Each resting upon an obsidian throne and flanked by storm creature guards, they stared down at their guest. Despite being alone and facing a foreign dignitary, the soft pink-furred unicorn stood tall and proud. Her vibrant purple mane sported several streaks of teal, though it was mostly contained beneath her golden helmet.

“You can't be serious,” remarked the Storm King. “Why would you ever believe that we would surrender and become pawns of your megalomaniacal queen?”

“Because she believes in mercy, second chances, and the goodness that lies within all ponies,” replied the messenger.

“Why do you look at me like that?” Fizzlepop demanded.

“Because you are the only pony here. That is all,” answered the golden armored pony.

“I tire of this conversation already,” stated the Storm King. “The answer is no. We will not give up, we will not surrender, and we will continue shooting down the poor saps you send in an effort to scout our land.”

“And you, what do you say?” asked the messenger, glancing at Fizzlepop.

“As always, I stand with my husband and with all the free peoples of the world,” Fizzlepop Berrytwist answered.

“There was a time when you sought to bring civilization to every corner of the planet. How unfortunate it is to see you spread barbarism instead,” muttered the other pony.

“Watch your tongue,” warned the Storm King. “You may be a guest, but my patience has limits, you know.”

“I believe this meeting is over,” Fizzlepop Berrytwist offered.

“I agree. Escort the envoy back to her pegasus bodyguards, and see that they leave immediately,” commanded the Storm King.

“A moment, if you would. I have one last thing to say,” replied the messenger.

“Make it quick,” snapped the Storm King.

“I have but one word,” the pony paused, pursed her lips, and uttered something in a language neither Twilight nor anyone else in the room save for Fizzlepop Berrytwist understood.

The unicorn groaned and clutched her head. “What, where am I?”

“Private Fizzlepop Berrytwist. Retrieve that staff and bring it to me,” barked the armored unicorn.

Fizzlepop Berrytwist turned to her husband and without hesitation ripped the staff from his grasp.

“What are you doing, my love? Don't give her the staff!” exclaimed the Storm King in confusion.

“Love? I don't even know who you are,” Fizzlepop Berrytwist replied, turning to the messenger. “Here you are, as ordered, ma’am.”

“Good,” declared the other mare as she caught the staff. “Now then, dispose of the guards.”

“Detain your queen! She is not in her right mind!” declared the Storm King. “Guards!”

“Ah ah ah, can't have that,” replied the mystery mare.

A flash of her horn sealed off the room, stopping anyone from entering or leaving.

Fizzlepop Berrytwist meanwhile struck without mercy, cutting down the first guard with a blast of magic that removed his head. His companion charged in anyway, determined to fulfill his king’s command no matter what may happen to himself. He met his end a moment later after Fizzlepop Berrytwist ducked out of his grapple attempt, tripped him, and disintegrated the downed guard.

“Why are you doing this? You’ve known Ralph and Sam for nearly a decade!” exclaimed the Storm King.

“That is not your queen, you fool,” spat the former messenger. “In fact, I think she needs a new name, one that suits her more.”

“Uh, ma’am?” muttered Fizzlepop Berrytwist.

“Ahh, yes, your new life begins in the shadow of the tempest. So shall you be known as Tempest Shadow forevermore,” declared the unicorn.

“Yes, ma’am. Tempest Shadow reporting for duty,” Tempest Shadow replied.

“Bring him to the balcony. I want him to watch as his kingdom burns,” commanded the unicorn.

Tempest Shadow turned to the Storm King and was about to repeat the command when he held up a hand.

“I will not resist,” he replied in a soft, solemn tone.

Tempest Shadow nodded and trotted over to the balcony with the defeated Storm King in tow.

“Watch the horizon,” commanded the mysterious mare.

Tempest Shadow did as was ordered, observing as her superior hefted the staff and activated its magic. Immediately the distant tempest shifted, and a passage through it was carved, revealing a multitude of white sails. The armada was enormous and supported by dozens of airships, towed along by hundreds of pegasus soldiers.

“I wonder if our queen will give me the honor of renaming this place after it is conquered and made compliant,” remarked the armored unicorn. “Perhaps I will call it Storm’s End, in honor of what it once was.”

“Just, give me back my wife, please,” urged the Storm King. “You’ve gotten what you wanted.”

“I would, if for no other reason than to take amusement from her surprise, but I’m afraid Celestia has plans for this one,” replied the messenger. “Plans that don't include you. Kill him.”

“Right now?” Tempest Shadow inquired.

“Yes, right now,” retorted her superior.

Tempest stared up at the being she was married to and hesitated.

“I forgive you,” he whispered. “I know that this isn't you, that you wouldn't do what you’ve done.”

“I’m not who you think I am,” Tempest Shadow asserted.

The Storm King smiled. “You don't know who you are.”

“Be quick about it,” snapped the unicorn. “We need to eliminate the rest of their command structure if we hope this invasion to end swiftly.”

“Right, sorry, ma’am,” Tempest Shadow replied.

The unicorn turned to Klavis and powered her horn, intent on disposing of him much the same way she had the guards. Energy coursed through her, until only a second later her spell was complete and ready to be unleashed. Yet for some reason, she found herself unable to follow through on that crucial, final step.

“What are you doing? Kill him,” demanded the unicorn soldier.

“I… I can't for some reason,” Tempest Shadow murmured. “My magic, it won’t do as I say.”

“Yes, fight it, my love. Remember who you are, remember what we’ve fought to accomplish together!” the Storm King urged.

“Be quiet. I don't know you!” Tempest Shadow shouted.

Her horn grew brighter still, pulsating with so much energy that her superior took a wary step back.

“I command you to kill him. Do it, now! Before your spell backfires,” barked the other mare.

“I can't!” Tempest Shadow shouted. “My magic won't obey me, it's out of control!”

The energy reached a pinnacle and exploded outward, releasing a flash that blinded nearly everyone. Twilight, however, was safe, half hidden behind one of the various pillars of the throne room, able to watch as Tempest Shadow’s horn erupted. Then the world fell away, the celestial soldier having blacked out from a mixture of pain and magical backlash.

Twilight came to amidst what had likely been a desk at one point, though it was now little more than a mound of debris. Her friends stood nervously around her, their gazes turned upwards at the twitching golden alicorn above them. Its mount contorted in place, its clawed hands twitching with murderous intent.

In an instant Twilight was aware that she had been out for several minutes, during which her friends had continued the fight. They had stayed defensive, constructing barricades and fending off the creature’s attacks with relative ease. For its master seemed distracted during that time, her spells were easily avoided, if they were even able to fully manifest in the first place.

Twilight bent her legs, channeled her blackened aura into her forehooves, and waited for the attack she knew was coming. Yet no magic attempted to strike her down, and no great fist flew at her with murderous intent. All focus lay on Tempest Shadow, as she began to writhe inside the cage of golden magic that encased her.

Cut all ties with it and fight! Twilight and her friends silently urged, their voices joining together and giving strength to the possessed unicorn.

A rainbow crack suddenly appeared on Tempest Shadow’s mask and was quickly joined by another. Within moments, a multitude of thin lines covered her entire form, and with a cry of rage, the pony within emerged. Using her jagged horn like a newborn, Tempest Shadow cracked the egg that encased her and emerged screaming back into the world.

That piercing shriek quickly took on a strange power, becoming an unearthly howl that filled almost all who heard it with terror. Twilight and her friends remained steadfast, bolstered by each other’s presence. Until the howl became a wail that tore from the throat of an ethereal ghost-like apparition emerging from Tempest Shadow’s body.

Golden lines tried to grip the specter and pull it back into its original body, but found no purchase on the soul, allowing Tempest Shadow to tear free of her mortal form and emerge fully as an anguished wraith hovering above her husk. A shell that was still wrapped in gold and appeared to be an alicorn, one with empty, dead eyes and drooping features.

“No, I am not done with you,” muttered an alien voice.

“But I am done with you!” spat Fizzlepop Berrytwist.

With a wordless cry of vengeance, the enraged spirit screamed its anger into the face of its former body. The air rippled, and the sound struck with all the strength of a hammer blow, peeling away sections of golden magic. Whatever entity possessed the mare’s body tried to resist, to fight back, but it was a useless effort.

Without lungs that needed to breathe, the specter did not let up, tearing away more and more of the armor. Wings flickered and lost their feathers before finally crumbling, joining the plates that had adorned the slowly revealed corpse of Fizzlepop Berrytwist. Until with one final bellow of rage, the magic was removed completely from its host and began to rapidly disintegrate.

Twilight urged Midnight Moon into action, gesturing up at the twisting mass of light falling to pieces above them. The spectral creature did as she was ordered, using a vial to capture the failing essence before it came apart completely. Trapped within the enchanted glass container, it became liquid and finally fell still within its new cage.

With the vial tucked securely out of the way, Twilight and her friends looked up as Tempest Shadow’s body fell from the sky. Rainbow Dash plucked it from the air before it could hit the ground, then laid it gently next to her friends. By then the strange celestial monster seemed to realize its own demise and began to fall apart much like its master.

Hunks of stone crashed down the side of the keep, while flesh and metal fell amidst the more mundane rain. Applejack kept her friends safe with a wall of wood she grew from her back, sheltering the others under her newly increased bulk. When finally they could no longer hear the sound of falling debris, Applejack pulled back her shield and returned to her normal size.

Her friends did the same, their strength and increased durability slipping away now that they were not required. All at once, they were individuals once more, and no longer shared as deep a connection as they had only seconds earlier. It didn't fade entirely, however, and they could feel one another’s presence as keenly as if they were holding hooves.

They did not dwell on that for long, for amidst the pitter-patter of rain, they heard the sob of someone in pain. Fizzlepop, now freed from her body, stood over her own corpse, staring down into the empty eyes that had once been her own. All six of the friends surged forward and wrapped the specter in a deep hug, surrounding the banshee in as much sympathy as they could muster.

Eventually, her cries turned into sobs, before finally, silence reigned once more. It was then that several thestrals flew over the broken lip of the keep’s top. Together they carried Sunset Shimmer down into the debris-filled pit and dropped her next to the six friends.

“Is everyone alright?” she called, horn glowing faintly.

“We are fine,” Twilight whispered. “But I’m afraid that Fizzle here is not.”

“I think I’m a little beyond help,” Fizzlepop muttered, floating higher in order to reveal her semi-corporeal form in greater detail.

Though she appeared much as she did in life, the unicorn lacked any back hooves, and instead sported faint wisps of greenish blue. Her bottom half was obscured by what appeared to be the tattered remnants of some long destroyed dress. Only her forehooves and head were clearly visible, though her features were still ghost-like and partially opaque.

“We could set a few wards to stop decay and perhaps bring back your body,” Sunset offered. “If we act quickly, you could retain the majority of your quality of life.”

“No!” Fizzlepop shouted. “No, I can't go back into that… prison.”

“No pressure, just enjoy the freedom!” Pinkie Pie offered, the troll attempting to pat the banshee on the back and failing when her hoof passed clear through the undead specter. “Aww, guess you’re not quite as solid anymore.”

“Wait, why are you being so nice to me? I tried to kill you. I killed so many others,” Fizzlepop murmured, staring down mournfully at her own hooves.

“That wasn't you, that was Order or Celestia,” Applejack scratched her head. “Whoever they were, they weren't you.”

“But-”

“Butts are for sitting,” Pinkie Pie interrupted. “Now quit your worrying and just enjoy the fact that you’re free!”

“We will speak again soon,” Fizzlepop murmured. “For now… for now, I need to be alone.”

“We’ll be here when you’re ready,” Twilight offered.

Fizzlepop nodded mutely before lifting into the air and drifting off into the night, following the rain clouds as they departed eastward.

“Was that… her?” Sunset whispered.

“Sort of. It's a long story,” Twilight replied.

“I mean, not that long. She got taken over like you did, only worse and maybe for longer? It's hard to tell because she was undead before we rekilled her,” Pinkie Pie explained.

“I guess it wasn't that long,” Twilight muttered.

“Look, we can debrief everyone on what happened later. Right now we gotta get out there and help all those poor folk who ended up worse off than us,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Oh my goodness, that's right, where did Spike go?” Fluttershy asked.

Rarity perked up and gestured in the direction of a distant crashing sound. “Something tells me he's not far.”

“Well, I’ve ensured that no one who died will decompose further, but we will need you to bring back those who volunteered to be resurrected quickly,” Sunset urged.

“We’re coming, Maud!” Pinkie Pie proclaimed, hefting Twilight up on her shoulder.

“Wow there, wait just a second. Where did we get these neat-lookin’ things?” Applejack interjected, raising her forehoof.

Revealing that where her bangle had been, she now wore a more luxurious and more magical piece of jewelry. At its center was a bright orange apple made up of a single multi-hued gem that was held by numerous golden roots. These roots wrapped around her hoof and kept the silver dollar-sized jewel held securely for all to see.

“We all got one,” Rarity added.

The arachne raised her right forehoof to reveal that her assertion was indeed correct. For she wore a similar bangle, only hers was made of gold webs and a purple gem in the center. The others all followed suit, raising their legs to show that their bangles had been changed somehow.

Many strange, as well as completely normal critters, made up the gold part of Fluttershy’s, while in the middle there was a pink butterfly. Pinkie Pie’s was a mix of gold streamers and a single bright blue balloon in the center. Like the others, Rainbow Dash had a similar piece of jewelry, with hers having numerous clouds surrounding a red lightning bolt.

“Yours is really pretty, Twilight,” Pinkie Pie murmured.

Twilight looked down at her forehoof to discover that hers was made up of numerous golden stars with a larger pink one in the middle. The pinkish-purple gem captivated her, though Twilight's attention soon shifted to the intricate gold. Uncountable starbursts nearly identical to the gem were linked to one another, creating a sea of stars that seemed infinite at first glance.

“Should we… take them off?” Rainbow Dash whispered.

“I don't think we have to,” Twilight murmured. “They don't seem to be harmful.”

“Wait, can y'all remember the word for cooperation?” Applejack scratched her head. “‘Cause it feels like that info fell right outta my head.”

“I think… I think it went into the bangles,” Twilight remarked.

“Another mystery for the pile. Now come on, let's go! We got a sister to save, and a party to throw!” Pinkie Pie declared.

“Oh, uh, right, let's- aah!” Twilight cried out in surprise, as Pinkie Pie leaped through a broken window.

“Wee,” cried the troll.

The pair quickly vanished out of sight, leaving the others to stare down at the corpse sitting at their hooves.

“Uh, what do we do with this?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Perhaps we should just hold on to it until Fizzlepop comes back,” Fluttershy remarked.

“That sounds like the right thing to do,” Applejack agreed.

“The Elements of Harmony,” Sunset suddenly declared.

“I’m sorry, what now?” Rainbow Dash replied.

Sunset pointed down to the thestral’s bangle. “Your jewelry, it's what they are called. The moment I saw them, the name just popped into my head. Like the universe thrust it upon me somehow.”

“I thought the Elements of Harmony already existed,” Fluttershy murmured in confusion. “Though I can't be sure. I never was one for history.”

“I don't know for certain, but I do know that these are them,” Sunset declared.

“Elements of Harmony, or fancy magical doohicky. I don't care what they are. We got work to do!” Rainbow Dash stated.

“Right,” Sunset agreed. “Let's get out there and save some lives.”

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