ACT SIX

Khan led everyone through many fields of Brogan, and any time any other monsters tried to pounce, he just blew his whistle at them, frightening them away. "What is with those guys?" asked Spike.

"Don't be fooled." Khan said "They are fierce creatures, but they are not evil. They just don't take kindly to strangers trespassing on their lands. Once they truly know you mean them no harm you'll be quite surprised."

This was strange for the team to hear, but only raised several other questions. Khan promised to answer them all when they reached their destination…

He brought them to a small camp village complete with mud huts, and wigwams, and all the sorts of things that would normally be seen in a place like that, and not only that, but there were Equestrian ponies living there too. One of them was Khan's wife, a light blue pegasi named Rani Drop, and her cutie mark was that of raincloud with a sun behind it. "Welcome." she said "Our home is your home."

It wasn't long before everyone became fast friends, and they all had a little bite to eat near a bonfire. "It's really beautiful here." Fluttershy said "How come it's not like this all over the planet?"

"And, how are there Equestrian ponies here too?"

Khan felt now was the time to explain…

According to legends, a-thousand years ago, in the part of the galaxy they were in, there was a great war between good and evil; so intense that many planets were affected, Brogan being one of them.

Ancient sorcerers of Brogan who fought along the side of goodness decided the only way for the war to be stopped was to contain all the powers from their enemies. As a result, two magical orbs were forged to help contain all the powers. The blue orb, the sorcerers used to amplify their powers to help them contain all the evil power inside the red orb. As a result, the evil lost all their powers rendering them unable to war any further.

But the two orbs still remained; containing dangerous amounts of power and energy that, in the wrong hands, would be used unleash the chaos all over again. The sorcerers then decided it was best to contain the orbs on their planet, in a temple located on the top of the tallest mountain on Brogan.

However, before they could, Discord, the evil king of the planet Khaos had invaded their land, and stole the red orb, knowing of its power and qualities. He then demanded the second orb, but to which the sorcerers refused, thus, another great battle had ensued, and Discord with his mightily powers of bending reality, destroyed the sorcerers completely, but not before they had managed to successfully seal the blue orb deep within the shrine, and placing a powerful force field around the orb, preventing anyone who was not pure of heart form even touching it, and even Discord's mighty magic couldn't break it.

Unable to steal the second orb, before leaving on his quest to spread chaos around the universe, Discord used powers from the red orb to unleash all the many dangers and hazards across Brogan, so that no one else who knew of the orb's existence would dare to even try to search for it.

As a result, Brogan had become what it was now.

The team thought that was really harsh. "So… How did you all get here?" Starla asked.

Khan explained how centuries later, Grand Ruler Celesto, after he had formed Unicornicopia and Starfleet, he had received distressful news that there was a report on a lone unicorn, wandering through space all by himself.

"I take it that was me?" asked Lightning.

"Yes, it was." replied Khan, and he went on saying that that he and his original party lead by Grand Ruler had been originally come to Brogan find Lightning and rescue him. They found him, but before they could reach him, they were attacked by the many beasts and hazards of the planet. Khan and his warriors managed to ward off the beasts allowing Grand Ruler to save and confront Lightning for the first time, and then take him back to Unicornicopia.

However, Khan and his team had requested to remain on Brogan. There was something mysterious about the planet they wished to explore, and as Grand Ruler was usually insistent on exploring other worlds and spreading the Starfleet forces around the universe, he allowed them to stay.

For over a decade, Khan and his kind explored the planet and discovered more about it, eventually learning how to tame the monsters and survive in the wilderness. They had set up a permanent camp and dedicated their lives to living it out on Brogan, in case of any other strangers getting lost on their planet, and to help spread Starfleet.

Eventually they all discovered the secrets of the orb and made it their newest responsibility to prevent evil ones from ever coming near the blue orb.

And eventually Unicornicopia was destroyed but their race along with the Equestrian's survived, and joined together. Several Equestrian ponies even came to Brogan to rendezvous with Khan's camp, to help them live more comfortably and help protect their part of the planet. Rani was one of them, and the two fell in love and eventually married.

"And now, here we all are." Rani said "We know what's happened in United Equestria, and we know you need the orb."

"Can you help us get it?" asked Spike.

Khan and Rani could only direct them to where they had to go. "Follow us, we will show you." Khan said, and he and Rani lead the team to the edge of the village where the starting trail of the tall mountain was. "Whoa…!" gasped Rainbow.

"Ay' Cyrumba!" twins cried.

The mountain had to be at least twice the size and height of what Blacktop Mountain used to be on Unicornicopia. That equaled to at least ten royal palaces stacked up on top of each other. "Is that it?" asked Buddy Rose.

"Yes…" Khan said "The temple that houses the orb you seek is at the Peak of Tall Mountain."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go get it!" and she began to hop off, but Twilight grabbed her by the tail "Pinkie wait! I don't think that getting it will be that simple."

Khan confirmed this theory, for there was a part of the story of the orb he and Rani hadn't mentioned yet. Despite the force-field protecting the orb at the temple, and Discord's dangers patrolling the planet, the sorcerers had power enough to cast one final spell on the mountain itself before they perished.

The mountain itself had been enchanted to ensure that no shortcuts could be taken to the top. The mountain had to be climbed. There was also an enchantment of no magic of any kind that could be used. "What?!" snapped Rarity "No magic whatsoever?"

"I'm afraid not..." said Khan "The sorcerers had laden the mountain with many obstacles, traps, and surprises, as test of endurance, and skill. Those who are not properly prepared or fit will never reach the top."

Rani nodded and explained they were allowed to only bring with them items and supplies that were not conjured by magic, or had no supernatural qualities.

"How do you know all this?" Twilight asked.

Khan explained that he and his clan, as the guardians of the mountain had witnessed many before them had tried to climb it to reach the temple and obtain the orb. "So far, all had failed. Some did the smart thing and chose to give up. Others continued to try but were never heard from again. They just never had what it took to make it."

This really worried the team. They wouldn't be able to fly, use magic, or their weapons, even their magical hand gloves wouldn't work and they would be forced to use their bear hoofs, however, Khan and his clan had all the supplied that they would be able to use; grappling hooks, climbing gear, rope, and all the natural things. The cooks even offered to make them all enough supplies that would hopefully sustain them, if they chose to take the test.

"We don't have much of a choice." Lightning said. The others agreed with him immediately. "We're going. United Equestria's counting on us."

It was all settled, they would rest at the village and gather supplies, and then set off at first light when their strength was at full, and it would be easier to see the mountain in daylight. "Do you think they can still hold out back home?" asked Fluttershy. Some of the others wondered the same.

Things weren't looking so good back home. The spell was becoming stronger, and the skies were growing dark and stormy, and the monsters were now growing bigger and stronger. Princess Luna sent as many soldiers and fighters that were left, and even resorting to sending messages to other Starfleet fighters on the other planets. "What is Shining Armor doing about the shielding?" she asked.

"He's fighting a losing battle, Princess." Goldwin warned her "He's been struggling non-stop all day. He hasn't slept or eaten."

Krysta came along to report that her fairies were exhausted "If we use up any more power, we won't have enough for our last minute resort."

Cadance even appeared through the palace portal from the Crystal Empire and reported that her defenses wouldn't hold much longer either, and she was very worried about her husband. "It's okay…" Shining Armor said weakly "I think I can keep going."

Distraught appeared laughing at them "What's the matter? Feeling a little tired…?"

"You!" shouted Luna, and she looked ready to fight, but Distraught fired a warning shot nearly hitting her. "Uh, uh, uh… I wouldn't try that again if I were you."

"Aunt Luna!" cried Cadance as she and Shining Armor stood by her and Goldwin.

"You little freaks…! You're wasting your time. Remember, I can easily dispose of you any time that I wish."

"So why don't you then?" bellowed Goldwin.

Distraught snickered "Because it's so much more fun watching in you squirm in the chaos that you stand for." And with that, he snapped his fingers and, POOF, he was in the spotlight wearing a hate and holding a cane and had tap shoes on, and he began to sing and tap to a song about all the wonderful chaos he was causing to all who lived in United Equestria; scaring them, breaking things, setting houses and things on fire, and all the time gloating at how unstoppable he was, and how it served them all right for killing his father and his race and how they would all suffer a far worse fate in the end.

The other four jumped in the song and tried once more to convince him that he was wrong about them and that Discord was not the pure creature he thought he was. In fact all he was doing was acting worse than his father ever did, but again, Distraught sang that he didn't believe them and continued to gloat about how his revenge would continue, and in the big finish he once again gloated how they would all soon be dead… Dead… DEAD!

"Wow! What do theatrics have that I haven't?"