Garrosh stood on a hill, grinning fiercely as he watched his army storm Ponyville. The few Royal Guard who dared to defend the place fell like dominoes. All around, civilians were attempting to flee the carnage, only to be cut down by swords, arrows and magic.

Parents tried desperately to hide their children as the Horde ransacked the town. The sounds of screaming, clashing steel and sobbing were music to Garrosh's ears.

"FIRE THE CATAPULTS!" he yelled. "LEAVE NO BUILDING STANDING! LET THEM SEE THE FULL MIGHT OF THE HORDE!"

At this command, hundreds of flaming boulders were sent hurtling into the town, adding to the mayhem.

"Warchief!" a voice distracted Garrosh's attention.

"What is it, solider?" Garrosh asked, not wanting to take his eyes off the battle.

"Enemy reinforcements have arrived at the train station." the soldier said. "Our scouts report seeing several unicorns and pegasi among their ranks."

Garrosh nodded. "Make those unicorns your priority target." he grunted. "And have the Bilgewater fliers take down the pegasi."

"At once, Warchief." The soldier saluted and departed. Garrosh turned to his catapult commander.

"Concentrate all fire on the train station!" he ordered. The commander swallowed nervously.

"We've already tried, Warchief." he said. "But we're out of range."

"WELL, GET IN RANGE THEN!" Garrosh roared. "Nothing will stop me taking this town, not even your incompetence!"

The commander whimpered and motioned for his men to pack up the catapults. As they did so, Garrosh turned his attention back to the town. In the distance, the Ponyville hospital was untouched by the ravages of war, several guards still stationed outside.

"It's all up to you, Gordul." he said to himself. "Do not fail me."

***

Twilight and the others gazed in horror at the portal. On the other side, they could see the battle being raged in Ponyville.

"We ... we're too late!" cried Rarity. "Ponyville is doomed!"

Tears formed in each pony's eyes as they lowered their heads. Walking over to the portal, Luxxoria peered inside.

"I can see Garrosh!" she said. "You can use the Elements of Harmony to defeat him."

"I know that." said Twilight, wiping her eyes. "But-"

"But nothing!" Luxxoria interrupted. "Those Elements are your only hope, so use them!"

Twilight raised a hoof. "If you'll let me FINISH," she said sternly, "you'd know that the Elements of Harmony are kept in Canterlot. In a safe that only Princess Celestia can access."

Luxxoria's demeanour faded. "And she's still in hospital." she said sheepishly, avoiding Twilight's gaze.

"Exactly." replied the purple unicorn. "Without her, we can't get to the Elements. And without the Elements ... "

She began crying again. "... Ponyville, as well as all of Equestria, will fall before the Horde."

Varian slammed his fist into his throne, startling everyone nearby. He rose to his feet, his eyes burning with anger.

"NO." he said firmly. "I will not stand idly by while the Horde ravage a peaceful land." He turned to Twilight. "I will meet with the other leaders of the Alliance, and persuade them to lend assistance."

The six ponies stopped crying.

"You would do that?" asked Rarity.

"Yes." replied Varian. "Equestria and the Alliance are not so different. Your Elements of Harmony represent all that we fight to protect in our world."

Twilight smiled.

"The Alliance is loyal to the people of Azeroth. We are kind to our friends, we are generous to those less fortunate. We are always true to ourselves, and even in war, one must not forget how to laugh with one's friends." Varian explained.

"But where does Magic come into all of this?" asked Rarity.

"The Alliance has been using magic for decades." Varian replied. "Without it, we wouldn't be where we are today."

"But how will you convince the other leaders of the Alliance to go to war for a race you've never seen before?" asked Twilight.

"By telling them what I've just told you." Varian answered with a faint smile. "And once they've seen what the Horde has done to your town," he pointed at the portal, "it will make them all the more eager to assist you."

A smile spread across each of the pony's faces as they hugged Varian, who seemed surprised at first, but soon returned it.

"Thank you," whispered Twilight, "for everything."

"The Alliance looks after those in need." Varian whispered back. He broke off from the hug and turned to his guards. "Get a mage in here on the double!" he shouted. "I need to get to the other Alliance cities as soon as possible!"

Luxxoria coughed. "I can do that for y-"

"NO." Varian said, silencing her with a raised hand. "I don't need you to taxi me around."

Luxxoria sighed.

"I need you to open that portal wide enough to transport an army." Varian said, his voice a mix between resentment and kindness. "You are the only person capable of doing it."

Luxxoria nodded. "Yeah, OK. I'll do that. But I'm doing this for THEM," she pointed at Twilight and the others, "not you."

Varian grunted. "Of course."

Footsteps echoed throughout the room. "That'll be my mage." Varian said. "Get that portal sorted, now."

Luxxoria sighed as Varian turned to the source of the footsteps. His face lit up upon seeing who it was.

"Jaina?" he said with a smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I came here to warn you about a strange arcane energy coming from Orgrimmar," she said as she eyed the ponies, "but it looks like you know more about this whole thing than I do."

"I'll explain everything later." said Varian. More footsteps caught his attention and he turned to face the source. His face fell upon seeing the hooded figure before him.

"What is HE doing here?" he demanded, reaching for his sword.

"Varian, wait!" Jaina said. "He is here to help as well. Like me, he picked up on the unnatural arcane energy coming from Orgrimmar."

Luxxoria and Zorann approached the trio and dropped to one knee.

"This is our fault." said Zorann. "We have failed the Horde, and we have failed you."

Luxxoria nodded. "No, it's mostly my fault." she said softly. "I'm the one who created the portal to Equestria in the first place. I'm the one who attacked first. I'm the one who persuaded Zorann to join me, and I'm the one who weakened the Princess."

She stood up, tears flowing down her cheek.

"I should have shown restraint." she said between sobs. "But no, I had to let myself be caught up in trying to please that oaf Garrosh." She spat on the ground as Zorann stepped in front of her.

"No, it's my fault as well." he said. "I could have persuaded her not to cast the portal. Or I could have persuaded her not to attack those innocent ponies. Or I could have killed her myself."

"It sounds like you are both at fault." the third person said.

Zorann and Luxxoria nodded and stood up. Twilight rushed over.

"But they've promised they will make everything right!" she said quickly. "They've said they can make amends for what they did!"

The visitor nodded. "And do you believe them?"

Twilight thought for a moment, unable to speak. She trotted back to her friends and gathered them in a circle.

"Do we trust those two?" she asked quietly. "I know they're responsible for all of this, but..." she trailed off.

"I think they are showing genuine remorse for what they did." Rarity said, glancing over at the two. "They've gone to all this trouble after all, such as saving us from those assassins."

"Yeah," Applejack whispered, "and if Luxxoria had cast the proper spell, we wouldn't have the Alliance helpin' us out."

The others nodded.

"So, it's settled then?" Twilight asked. "We do trust them?"

There was a collective "Yes!" from the rest of the group, and Twilight went back over to Jaina, Varian and the unidentified visitor.

"Yes," she said loudly, "we do trust them."

The stranger nodded. "Very well." he said. "Their atonement is in your hooves, young one."

Luxxoria and Zorann both mouthed a thank you to Twilight. Varian coughed and turned to Jaina.

"Jaina, I need to visit the other Alliance cities. Can I trouble you for a portal to Ironforge?"

"Of course, Varian." Jaina replied as she cast the spell. The portal appeared in front of her. Varian turned to Luxxoria.

"I want that that portal to Equestria sorted by the time I get back." he said sternly, and stepped into Ironforge.

Luxxoria sighed and turned to the stranger.

"I swear I will make up for my mistakes." she said. "My friend and I no longer swear allegiance to Garrosh and his Horde."

The stranger nodded as Luxxoria continued.

"However, our allegiance to you remains unfathomable..."

Zorann joined her and they saluted briskly.

"... Warchief Thrall."