King Craw looked himself over yet again to check for any injuries but there were none that would be too hampering. He stood beside Ulrik, the chest that contained the Elements kept firmly under one of his holed through hooves, a brief grin tugged at his thin lips but he resisted the temptation as now was not the time to be over confident. Ulrik had been patiently standing beside his temporary leader, his bland gray robes making him stick out like a sore thumb among the brilliant colors of Canterlot Castle, however his patience was beginning to falter visibly with a slight fidget.

“They should arrive soon,” Craw's left ear twitched in slight amusement. Ulrik's dark eyes looked at the king for a few moments before he resumed looking ahead at the two dark purple and gold doors.

“With all due respect your Highness, Grievous is very much alive-”

The doors swung wide open, banging loudly off the walls as Renn triumphantly marched in followed by a small group of Changelings that were dragging in the six Bearers of the Elements themselves. Each of the ponies had been encased in a cocoon that stopped at their necks allowing them to remain conscious, the cocoons ended in a thick string the drones were dragging by their jaws. And naturally the one who protested quite openly was Rainbow Dash, who was currently writhing in her gooey prison.

“I'm warning you! If you don't lemme outta this thing right now,” she narrowed her eyes lividly, “I'm gonna kick all your flanks myself!” Her eyes scrunched shut as she continued her thrashing. The doors shut at Craw's magical will and he then held up a hoof to indicate for the drones to cease their actions. Humbly they released the slimy green strands from their fanged maws and stalked away. The king loomed over the six mares, for once allowing a glimmer of smug glory to enter his eyes.

“Bold words Rainbow Dash-”

“Yeah yeah 'I'm so powerful' and blah blah!” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes obnoxiously, “you got your brief win and your cliche monologue outta the way...now where's the part where we kick your pony-bug butt?”

One of the drones that had been watching from the side stifled a snicker and Rarity gave a little giggle, had her hooves been free she would've covered her mouth. Craw's eyes flashed dangerously and his gnarled horn glowed and the rainbow maned Pegasus' cocoon slowly oozed up and covered her mouth. “What a rude little bitch you are,” he hissed at having his ego bruised.

“Hey! That's one bit in the swear jar mister!” Pinkie Pie interrupted with a disapproving frown. Craw looked at her warningly but before he could say anything Applejack cut in.

“What do ya want with us?” She looked at the beautifully made chest that contained each of there Elements. Craw smiled again having seemingly chosen to ignore Pinkie's outburst at the moment. “At least one of you stupid ponies is observant,” his horn glowed again and the chest was forcibly wretched open, “I'm going to absorb your love...happiness...whatever you want to call it and become the sole Bearer of the Elements of Harmony and with all that power none will be able to withstand my might.” At the king's words Twilight Sparkle tilted her head to the side.

“How're you going to do that? Last time I checked emotions and artifacts aren't connected,” she stated matter of factly, a bit of sweat hidden behind her mane, 'Just gotta keep him talking until Grievous or one of the princesses show up...'

“Are feelings of Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, and Loyalty not feelings of happiness and love?” He inquired but did not wait for an answer but simply carried on, “and Magic...you are all connected to the Elements-”

They all looked back at the doors as the sounds of magical beams being fired back and force and cries of pain sounded out clearly.

BOOM!

The doors were blown off their hinges as Chrysalis and Luna walked in, followed by a small legion of Changelings loyal to the true queen. Chrysalis herself stepped forward and grinned dangerously, “Surprised?”

Craw's horn began to glow and both Renn and Ulrik drew their lightsabers simultaneously each in an aggressive stance as Craw's own drones began to assume a traditional line across their king, glowering menacingly at the attackers. Luna stamped a hoof and lowered her horned head in anticipation and Chrysalis' eyes gleamed wickedly...but no one made a move. It seemed like the castle turned battlefield had frozen in time when Ulrik half glanced at the high ceiling and there he was...General Grievous, hanging like a giant metal bat in one moment and descending down upon them the next. He flipped through the air ignited his two lightsabers-

WHAM!

He landed in the center of the corridor forming a small crater and in mere seconds the battle began, Changelings colliding with Changelings as Chrysalis and Luna began blasting and ramming their way through any enemy that made the mistake of getting in the way.

Grievous wordlessly blocked the two Dark Jedi's incoming attacks, keeping low to the ground and quickly swiped up and across forcing his foes to stand side by side directly before the Kaleesh warlord, his eyes glowing light pits golden fire as he charged them, limbs becoming a blur with each swing and occasionally gripping a blade with a foot attacking them both above and below and cutting his way past any fool that tried to attack him. Viciously he rotated his hands his weapons of battle leaving gouges in the floor and sending sparks in their direction before he lept, leveling his blades at his sides preventing them from leaving any damage. Landing, he swung to the left with his right effectively deflecting Renn's assault and sent him staggering off to the side and arched his left blade downward forcing Ulrik to bring his own lightsaber over his head to block.

Normally Grievous would have finished him but the fact that Renn was running at him forced the general to simply send a metal taloned foot slamming into his hard abdomen. With ease Grievous lashed out with his left arm, the hard material nearly knocking Renn out as it sent him into the wall denting it and causing a few small chunks to spill out all over the Dark Jedi.

Grievous swung rapidly to kill to the sudden swarm of drones that launched themselves at him ferociously, he twisted his metal body aside in time to evade one but another steadily crept up behind him...and sprang...only to be with the general's fist. He didn't even turn to acknowledge the nuisance  and seized one with a foot, it's spine snapping when he smashed it to the ground. A jerk of his arm and his elbow met a drone's muzzle, a fang and mixture of blood and saliva flew out.

VMM!

Another was decapitated. A blast from Chrysalis took another two in a flash while Grievous skewered to attackers with a reverse stab, withdrawing his blades and whirling them around, cleaving apart more drones and casually deflecting a magical bolt back to its sender.

When he'd given himself considerable space he raised a lightsaber over his head and pointed it forward. Ordering them on.

Attack.

- - - -

Craw had never run from a battle that fast before in his entire long life as usually he was one of the last to leave the battlefield in defiance and a show of his prowess at war. But not this time. When he actually gazed upon Grievous he felt all confidence leave him...never had Craw seen anything like General Grievous. His face was expressionless...but with sunken gold eyes surrounded by rusty red flesh that seemed to hold all the rage in the world within them. Slender but powerful metal limbs, armor the color of bone, broad shoulders and a towering height...surpassing Chrysalis, himself and even the two Dark Jedi! And his fighting skills...Craw was astounded that Renn and Ulrik had survived his wrath at Appleloosa.

'T-this can't be happening!' He looked back at the six mares now fully encased in their cocoons and now unconscious in them, Craw surveyed the two assassins; Renn and Ulrik as well as the...eight Changelings that had fled with him. And the environment...this corridor was smaller and therefore much more enclosed, no pillars or anything extravagant as he was now in one of the castle's lower levels that very few ventured into. And behind them was a door that Ulrik had pulled open.

An eerie glow emitted from the entrance of the corridor as General Grievous marched in, hunched over but no less intimidating his eyes, gold and soul piercing were looking directly at Craw. Silently saying:''I am going to kill you and nothing and no one will stop me.”

The drones fired at the warlord who jumped and used his talons to cling to the old stone wall and began running effortlessly up it. The green magical bolts hitting the wall and eventually the ceiling blowing holes into them but never hitting their rapidly moving target.

“SHOOT HIM DOWN!” Craw screamed, his red eyes bulging and his jaw dropping in frightened awe as the general soared downward. The second he landed on a drone crushing its spine and obviously annihilating it's ribs, the lightsabers struck each of their targets; not once did Grievous miss. Craw watched as the green blade swung upward and sliced across the face and chest and striking down the last of his guards.

The door to the final room slammed shut, Craw didn't even bother with the six ponies he'd gone to extreme lengths to capture.

- - - -

As soon as that door shut Grievous' attention immediately turned to the six, quickly he used his weapons to slice the cocoons open, the green sacks spilling out a oozing material on the ancient stone floor. Luna used her magic to pull them out and lay them carefully to the ground, Grievous deactivated his lightsabers and shifted his arms behind his back as Chrysalis landed beside Luna, her own surviving warriors guarding the corridor from any intruders.

“They'll be fine but a little drowsy,” Chrysalis rolled her eyes at what she deemed to be unnecessary for six ponies she despised but regardless she kept her contempt down. Especially at seeing one of Grievous' arms twitch ever so slightly.

“Good,” his horn like antenna whirred as they shifted briefly when he swiveled his head over to Luna, “is there any way out of that room?”

“No. Its a secret council room from only my sister, our top advisers and myself, that door is the only way out.”

Grievous began stepping towards the door while issuing his commands. “All of you stay out here, kill any hostiles and see to it that those ponies remain safe.”

“You're going in alone?” Chrysalis asked.

“They are mine to kill.”   Next Chapter: The duel Estimated time remaining: 14 Minutes