Grievous cut his way through more drones before leaping through the glass of a clothing store, fearlessly going in aggressively utilizing his legs as powerful battering rams to kick aside a few Changelings landing painfully off to the side, knocking over a set of clothing racks. A few royal guards were bravely standing their ground but compared to the crushing invasion force it seemed laughably pitiful.

“There's more!” One guard cried out, a bit of blood trickling down his right foreleg and one eye was swollen shut and purple. Grievous glanced back over his shoulder as a small swarm of drones flew at the shattered window letting out eerie battle cries.

“How many of these damn things-,” the guard was silenced when the drones were spontaneously enclosed in a dark blue aura effectively trapping them in place. They began spinning rapidly through the air in all directions, smashing hard into each other, cracking bones could be heard over their stunned and frightened cries, others were viciously bashed against buildings leaving smears of dark green blood on the walls. Amongst the tornado of chaos Princess Luna landed in the center of it all, her impact cracking the road open in a few sections her eyes glowing moon white. Spreading her wings and standing on her back legs she sent the attackers flying away in all directions.

“Effective display, princess,” a voice stated, even Grievous was surprised when Chrysalis landed beside the Night Princess...and she had brought back up. A new swarm of Changelings buzzed overhead and savagely attacked those loyal to Craw.

“So,” Grievous interrupted and stepped out of the store, “you finally decided to show up?”

“What better time to take back my throne other than now?” Chrysalis' glanced over at Luna with a bit of a smug grin, “Don't you think that was over doing it?”

A drone roared at Grievous and flew at him...only to be seized by the throat, a cold taloned foot locked firmly around it's neck. With ease the warlord threw the drone, it's scream of terror drowned out by the loud crashing sounds of it going through at least three buildings.

Luna smirked back.

“Now that is over doing it.”

“No,” Grievous decapitated an attacker casually, “I think of it as being effective.”

- - - -

Ulrik's involvement had not made the fight as easy as Craw had been hoping for. If anything it seemed to have increased her will to fight. Celestia's horn was now encased in a dark orange glow as it collided with Ulrik's green blade, locking with it perfectly as though it were a lightsaber itself. Celestia grunted slightly as she roughly shoved her enemy's blade aside but he quickly countered with a backslash forcing her to jump back, Craw had shed his melted chest armor minutes ago therefore he felt more vulnerable than before but he had to take a risk. Celestia rammed a single back hoof squarely into his chest and sent the king flying back, he roared furiously the whole way before smacking against a pillar, bending it neatly in two.

Ulrik swiped at the princess's head but she ducked and lashed out with one wing, the Dark Jedi sprawled along the floor his lightsaber burning deep glowing gouges into the floor.

'This is my chance!' Craw fired a spiraling red beam from his gnarled horn and it struck Celestia in the side, earning him a startled yell of pain and the Solar Princess was sent through some of the beautifully done stained glass creating a few small cuts on her body.

“Cut through the door!” Craw commanded feverishly. Success was his grasp!

- - - -

“If you know what Craw's plan is you need to tell us now,” Grievous demanded, feeling exceptionally impatient after having to kill another group of Changelings and he was even more agitated by the fact he had no clue where the ponies were.

“I'm not psychic,” Chrysalis replied sarcastically while looking at one of her hooves. Grievous glowered and tossed off his cape, “We don't have time for this!”

“I do have a hunch as to what Craw might do though,” she went on as if the general hadn't interrupted, “he mentioned it to me before I began my failed invasion. I think Craw may try to drain Twilight Sprinkles-”

“SPARKLE!” Both Grievous and Luna yelled at her, Grievous had half raised his temporarily inactive weapons.

“Whatever,” the Changeling rolled her eyes, “but as I was saying, Craw most likely wants to drain Twilight Sparkle and her friends dry.”

“What purpose would that serve?” Grievous asked, glancing up at Canterlot Castle. He was sure that's where they'd been taken.

“They are the Bearers of the Elements Of Harmony...if he were to absorb their love he would gain the power to use the Elements himself.”

Luna's jaw dropped open in sheer horror at the idea as the realization sunk in. “That would make him overwhelmingly powerful!”

“Correct,” Chrysalis nodded at the princess, “and if you want to save Equestria and your precious friends,” it was clear she was addressing both of them, “then its going to take all of us to stop him.”

Grievous ignited his lightsabers drawing the two royal leaders attention to a huge swarm of fresh Changelings that were now flying towards them. Chrysalis dismissively walked past Grievous and Luna as her own horn began glowing green. Chrysalis fired a beam at the drones that were now merely yards away, and instead of simply striking one drone the magical ray expanded into a gigantic orb that enclosed the attackers within it. Rising up onto her back legs the orb rose up...and dropping down onto all fours and swinging her head down to the point were it almost smacked into the stone road the orb crashed to the ground...

BOOM!!!!

Green fire along with dozens of bits of stone, glass, dirt, and other types of debris rocketed into the air, expanding in all directions, a small fire covered chunk bounced harmlessly off Grievous' shoulder plate and skidded on the ground. A building rumbled, having more that half of its structure blown to bits it collapsed, seeming to shake the city itself. Chrysalis grinned to herself rather proudly at the display of her power and looked over at the general and the princess, inclining them with a tilt of her head.

“Let's go.”

- - - -

Princess Celestia felt the wind whipping through her flowing mane as she gracefully avoided the horn of an attacking drone, using her fore hooves to punch two other drones away from her. The princess grunted when another drone shouldered her painfully into the side of the castle.

BRAK!

The wall dented in and dozens of massive and hair thin cracks appeared on her spot of impact. Reopening her eyes Celestia launched herself forward, spinning around in a circle, her back hooves pointed to the ground, her majestic wings splayed out to their fullest extent. The Changelings were sent soaring away at full speed after coming in contact with those powerful wings. Celestia ceased her attack and quickly flew back into the castle corridor were the Elements were kept...

The door was lying on the floor...cut cleanly away. And the Elements Of Harmony were gone. Next Chapter: Grievous strikes back Estimated time remaining: 22 Minutes