Rhymey's sword was charging up, against his will. No matter how hard he tried to resist Night Mare's control, he couldn't stop her. "Destroy them! Destroy them now!" she growled.

Buddy Rose, Artie, and Luna saw no other choice, and Buddy Rose rammed hard into Rhymey, knocking him away. "Forgive me, my friend." Buddy said under his breath, but Rhymey was relieved.

"All warriors must do the right thing,

I'm glad you did it before my sword did swing."

With Night Mare's eye contact broken, Rhymey was out of her spell. "I'm only getting warmed up…" she sniggered and she used her powers to lift everyone up high again, and smash them into one another like bumper balls while she laughed maliciously.

The poor Equestrian's watched helplessly from the fortress until the guards whipped them and forced them back to slaving. "That's it!" growled Spike "I can't take another minute of this."

Twilight couldn't either, and she could tell her friends couldn't either. While cleaning the floor all together, they whispered to one another about a plan that would probably. It was very risky and dangerous to try, but then again… anything was better than being slaves and beaten up anyway.

…

Meanwhile, Discord was still thrashing about and breaking Unicornicopia to bits, and really felt he had seen the last of Celesto, Celestia, and all their followers…

When in fact, they had survived! They were now in a hollow about twenty feet square under all the rubble of the collapsed Rainbow City. Celestia and Grand Ruler had used their magic to light up the dark and form a protective barrier to keep the rubble from falling on them, but it wouldn't hold forever, especially with Discord constantly attacking the remains of the kingdom and causing more tremors.

There was no possible way to dig their way to the top, even for Dyno and Myte or they'd bring everything crashing down. Even if they managed to escape, the portal gateway went down with the palace, leaving them trapped in there, and Krysta was in the safe dimension, and without the portal to help guide her back, she couldn't' return to help.

Celestia and Grand Ruler didn't dare try to teleport either, or they'd have to dispel the barrier keeping all the rubble above their heads from falling in. It all seemed just hopeless.

Starla was sitting by herself in a corner of the hollow. The expression on her face was enough to tell she had nearly given up all hope. Lightning walked over to her, "Starla…? Are you scared?" he asked as he sat next to her. Starla nodded. "Yeah… I am."

"Me too…" replied Lightning, and he wrapped his limb and hoof around her comfortingly. She smiled and rested up against him.

Grand Ruler felt terrible. This was his fault they were trapped like this, and after all his years of knowledge of swiftness, he couldn't figure a way out of this. Even if they managed to escape the rubble, how could they possibly leave the dimension before Discord completely destroyed it?

He gazed over at Celestia. "I'm sorry, Celestia…" he said to her.

"Celesto…?"

"This is all my doing… I've only made things worse, and now I've gotten you involved to. I should have known."

Celestia understood how he was feeling, "But don't let it get you down." she said "You're a great warrior, and you've done so much for your people. You had no way of knowing that this would ever happen."

"The princess is right, Sire." said Lightning "Besides, I know we can find a way out of here. When have we ever not made it out of tough spots before?"

The others agreed and showed that they still believed in themselves and hope. Grand Ruler smiled and realized he obviously has taught them better than he thought, and if there was one thing he above everyone should remember was… it wasn't over until it was over. They still had time to think of a way out.

"Eh… I beg your pardon." Brain said "But perhaps may be a good time to explain to everyone about my secret project I have been working on."

"At a time like this…?" snapped Dyno. "You should be thinking more of a way we can get out of here."

Brain tipped his glasses, "My dear fellow… that is precisely what my project is in fact." He cleared his throat and explained his project, which also explained the explosions that came from his house the past while.

He had in fact, over the years been working in an underground workshop he had, and building a massive ship which he hoped would enable to make inter-dimensional travel between dimensions possible. It would be like using a portal, only it wouldn't be as fast, or as stable if not handled well, but it would be reliable for such emergencies.

"After many years of hard work and experimenting… I'm certain that it shall succeed."

Everyone was gazing at him with wide-eyes. "You've been prepared for when all hopes of escape seem impossible and then make an alternate way?" asked Lightning.

"Yes…" replied Brain "Shall we say it was… eh… er… a lucky guess? Heh... heh…!"

Hope started to shine everyone's eyes, "But may I point out…" said Cookie Dough. "It's out there… we're trapped under here… and this whole place is going to cave in on our heads any minute."

He was right; Celestia and Grand Ruler could feel the magic barrier getting weak, and Discord was still attacking causing more tremors to shake the hollow and make things worse. The kingdom was in really bad shape now. It looked as if the whole thing would blow up at any moment.

Abra fell flat on the ground, but he could suddenly a light breeze of air blowing at his legs. "I say…" he exclaimed "Why is there air blowing through here.

Everyone walked over and observes it was a small crack in the ground, and it was obviously coming from the underground tunnel-systems under the city where all the water came in. That's when everyone happened on the same idea. If they couldn't escape by going up and out, maybe they could go under the ground, and that way Discord wouldn't see them either and they could teleport to Brain's place a lot easier.

"But the ground… it's too solid!" cried Starla "How can we dig through it."

Dyno and Myte saw this as their chance to take over. After all, they weren't the best mining engineers for nothing, and there wasn't any kind of terrain yet that they couldn't dig up, even with their bare hoofs combined with a fraction of their explosive powers. "Hurry, boys!" cried Grand Ruler "There isn't much time."

The barrier was almost ready to give, and bits of the rubble above were starting to fall in, but the twins managed to drill a hole big enough for everyone get through, but one at a time. Everyone quickly slipped through as the barrier got even weaker, and the pile of rubble above began to rumble and quiver. Celestia and Grand Ruler were the last ones to slip in as the barrier completely vanished and the hollow caved in, but the tunnels were still strong enough to hold the weight up.

Now that they were free, Celestia and Grand Ruler used their magic to teleport everyone to an area just below where Greenland once stood. Brain's house and laboratory, and everything he had above ground had been demolished, but his secret underground lab was still intact.

No one had ever been to his secret lab before, not even Grand Ruler, but upon entering, everyone was just stunned by what they saw. A giant ship just as Brain promised with armor plating, thrusters, and the inside would have more than enough room for everyone.

"Well, everyone… eh… what do you think?" Brain asked.

No one said a thing, but the hastily boarded, and through Brain's instructions they began to activate the ship's power. "Stand by for takeoff." Brain said "Opening secret roof hatch!"

Brain had even managed to construct a large hanger bay opening over the ship if ever there came a day when he would fly it. The ground moved away, and the ship began to rise up on a platform, then it was tilted up on a ramp lift until it was pointing straight up.

Suddenly, Lightning noticed, "Uh… I think we have a problem." He pointed out the window and everyone could see Discord heading straight for them. "Well, well… what have we here?" he asked teasingly as he gazed at the ship, and he was rather impressed that everyone had survived the collapse of the city. "And you have a new toy for me to play with too…? You shouldn't have."

He was hovered up where he was and drew in a huge breath, ready to blats the ship to ashes. "He's going to fire on us!"

"Not quite…!" Brain said, and he flipped a switch which raised a large shielding plate over the front of the ship which blocked Discord's fiery breath. "Mm… this is getting interesting." Discord sniggered. "Let's see what other fires we can start."

"Thrusters ready to fire!" said Cookie Dough.

"Launch!" demanded Brain, and the ship took off and zoomed right past Discord as he slammed his huge claws down and missed. He hit the ground with such force that the whole kingdom began to shake and quiver violently and it didn't stop but just kept getting worse. Any second now, it would all burst into flames!

"Take us out!" shouted Grand Ruler.

"Yes, Sire!" said Brain, but as they headed up, and up, and up into the stormy skies, they stopped moving up and felt themselves slowly being pulled back towards the surface. "What's happening?" cried Celestia.

Everyone looked round, and saw Discord was holding onto them and dragging them back down with him. "Leaving so soon? How rude!" he hissed. "The party's just getting warmed up."

Brian tried all he could, but the thrusters weren't strong enough to break Discord's grip. Also, of all the things he built in the ship for defense, he had forgotten to put in any weapons. "Well…" he groaned "…Now who's a fool?"

Lightning had an idea and he headed straight for the back of the ship where the hatch was. "Open it!" he shouted. "Lightning…? What are you doing…?" shouted Grand Ruler "Saving us, that's what!" replied Lightning and as soon as the hatch was open, Lightning got a good view of Discords huge, ugly face and fire the rainbow force and uniforce at the same time, straight at him.

The forces were actually helping the ship gain a little extra thrust, but Discord was still too strong and he hardly felt the blast at all. He laughed at Lightning's feeble attempts

Discord merely laughed and began to tighten his grip on the ship and began to squash the hull in like a tine can. "We can't hold out much longer!" cried Brain. That's when Grand Ruler leapt out of his seat and joined Lightning, blasting Discord with the uniforce himself. His force combined with Lightning added more power, but still just not quite enough. "We're almost out!" cried Brain "We just need a little more…" but Grand Ruler and Lightning were already giving it all they had. They could give no more.

Most of the others couldn't leave their posts, and their attacks wouldn't give them the thrust they needed. Discord's continued to laugh. "I can't remember the last time I had so much fun." He mocked. He continued to laugh so much that Celestia was growing very annoyed, and worried about everyone. She stood from her passenger seat with a serious look on her face… and then she began to glow with that same mystical light.

Everyone gazed at her in surprise.

"That glowing…!" cried Starla "…Is that the uniforce?"

This confused everyone, "But how…?"

"She doesn't have a golden horn!"

Even Lightning and Grand Ruler were amazed, but they continued to fire as Celestia joined them by their sides. "What?" growled Discord "Celestia…? No…! This can't be…!"

"Discord…!" snarled Celestia "After all these ages… this… is… goodbye…! …UNIFORCE!" Her power, combined with the others, not only gave them enough thrust to break free, but shot Discord right in the eyes.

The evil demon dragon roared and screeched in pain. "Quick…! Close the hatch!" cried Lightning. The hatch closed and the ship began to fly up, up, up… while Discord, blinded and completely stunned from being hit by such powerful forces all at once, not like before, began to crash back down into the exploding kingdom below. "We are almost there!" cried Brain.

The kingdom began flare and rupturing as they penetrated the dimensional barrier and into Dimensional Space. Then, as Discord crashed into the ground, did the biggest and deadliest scene of explosions and flares completely engulf the kingdom, reducing it to nothing less than a baron, burning wasteland or nothingness.

Everyone in the ship could feel the force of the explosion rock them about softly, but they made it out alive and were on their way. Everyone gazed out the back at, the now, ruined dimension. "My beautiful kingdom…!" Grand Ruler peeped softly, and he lowered his head in heartache and pain.

Everyone felt really bad, but at least Discord had been destroyed as well!

…

Night Mare had been bashing Luna and friends against each other for a while now, and they were all looking very badly beat up, but all she did was laugh at them and slam them down hard on the ground. "I think enough is enough." she said.

The gang was all bruised and their armors were all dented and busted up. Worse than that, they still hadn't landed a single hit on Night Mare at all. "Now… the question is who I shall destroy first?" she wondered aloud.

She was so busy that she didn't notice what was happening in her fortress.

Twilight and friends were ready to spring their plan. Some of the others were just playing it cool and continuing to slave, while Twilight and the rest were hiding behind a doorway. The only two guards in the chamber heard someone screaming for help and dashed to the doorway to see what was wrong, but as the crossed through, "Now..!" shouted Twilight as she and her friends pulled on their chains and raised them like tripping wires. The guards fell over and down the flight of stairs ahead of them and crashed at the bottom out cold.

"YE-HA…!" cried Applejack "Like beatin' a dead horse. Not latterly."

Now that the guards weren't watching anymore, they leave through the front door and head straight down to help the others, but they were still chained to iron balls which were extremely heavy. Only the elements of harmony would be able to break them, but Night Mare still had them on her.

"There's no way we can get down there like this." cried Pinkie Pie "It's no good! We're done for! DONE FOR…!" Rarity and Rainbow Dash tacked her to the ground to keep her from shouting too loud. "Keep it down, Pinkie!" snapped Rainbow.

Applejack already had an idea. "If we can't get to the elements, I'll get them to us."

Before anyone asked how she intended to do that, she grabbed a long and loose chain that was on the floor in her teeth and began to whirl it like a lasso. She didn't have her magic, but she still had her skills and regular talent.

Night Mare decided to wipe out all four of the fallen warriors at once, but right as she was about to do so. She felt something yanking the treasure-chest of from her back. "What?" she exclaimed as she saw the chest being pulled into the fortress by a chain. "No…!" she cried as a bright flash of light shone through the windows, and Twilight and her friends all dashed outside, out of their chains, with their wings and horns back, and each wearing one of the elements of harmony. "What's the matter Night Mare…?" mocked Twilight "Are we breaking the rules?"

Night Mare growled angrily. "You wretched little mules…!"

Rhymey, though weak and sore, looked up and saw Fluttershy. She gazed back at him and smiled. Then she gazed back angrily at Night Mare who was glaring at them all angrily.

Things were about to get far more intense.

…

It was taking time to get to Nightmarica, even at full speed, but at least the others would arrive soon…!

Poor Celestia was pooped out from using her powers in such a force before. She was resting now on a bench for multiple passengers to sit while she recovered her energy, but everyone was amazed and astounded by what she had done. "I never thought it was possible before…" said Grand Ruler, "But I witnessed it with my own eyes- a unicorn without a golden horn somehow managed to tap into the uniforce!"

"I… I did…?" groaned Celestia, "But how…?"

Grand Ruler hushed her and told her to relax. She would need her strength for the upcoming trials ahead, which he, himself, was really looking forward too. "Night Mare…! Beware…!" he said in his thoughts.

As the ship continued to fly across Dimensional Space, those same large red eyes were gazing at them, and the evil voice behind them sniggering softly.

…

Night Mare was still glaring at the Equestrians, but her anger slowly turned into evil laughter. "What is she laughing about now?" snapped Spike "She's driving me crazy!"

"I guess I should commend you for being able to outsmart my newest spells." said Night Mare "But you haven't won anything yet. You think that just because you have your precious elements back, that you can stand up to me?"

"And what makes you so sure that we can't?" asked Twilight.

That's when Titan's minions, who had long since returned, soared over the gang, and landed near Night Mare. All of them were sniggering, "Just watch…" said Dementia.

"Then you'll see…" added Rep-Stallion.

"Prepare to meet your doom!" hissed Mysterious.

Night Mare began to laugh loud and as powerful shadows enveloped her and the minions, and the shadows began to merge together into one, large, and powerful demon… part Night Mare, and bits and parts of the minions, though it still seemed to be mostly nightmare. She now called herself, Nightmaricus!

Fluttershy felt her old fear rising again, and she was too scared to even hide.

"Take a good look at me now." the evil demon bellowed "I have become one with my new friends, and added their power to mine. Even your elements of harmony will avail you not!"

Twilight and friends, though scared, decided to stick it up and fight.

Luna and her friends, though still a little sore, were finding their second winds. "We'll help you!" Luna promised.

"Our honor is true!" rhymed Rhymey.

Twilight nodded and then shouted, "In the name of the princess, Celestia… FOR EQUESTRIA…!"

And everyone leapt up high and charged into battle, but Nightmaricus was a lot stronger than she looked. She stomped her huge hoof which shook the grounds and made everyone fall over. The Unicornicopians, Luna, and the pegasi took to the air to avoid this. Everyone fired their best attacks at the demon form many angles, and it seemed to have some effect as Nightmaricus roared and growled in pain, but she didn't seem to get any weaker, but rather angry.

"Insignificance…!" she growled and she spun round and around on one hoof, swinging her massive tail and batting everyone off in different directions. "Wow!" cried Rainbow Dash, "I never thought she could get this strong!"

"It could always be worse…!" said Artie, and that's when Nightmaricus opened her mouth and let out a super energy beam which the gang was barely able to dodge. The force of the impact was so strong that it blew a small crater in the ground where it hit!

"EEK…!" cried Fluttershy "OhmyOhmyOhmyOhmy…!" she kept on squeaking while trembling fearfully

"Stay focussed!" said Luna as everyone huddled by her side "Everyone, attack her all at once!"

"Right…! Maybe that will blow her out!" added Buddy Rose.

Everyone summoned up all the magic they could spare, and combined it into one colossal force of magic and fire it straight at Nightmaricus, which damaged her good but not good enough. "Look out! She's coming!" cried Pinkie!

Nightmaricus stomped over to the group and growled at them fiercely and chuckled, "Face it! Friendship failed, and so did harmony."

"No…!" cried Twilight "She's just too strong…!"

"Oh, boy… this is it!" cried Spike and then he gazed at Rarity. "Before I die… I want… I want to tell you that I think you're… you're..."

Poor Rarity was too frightened to pay attention anyway, but just as Spike was about to say the magic words he had longed to say, Nightmaricus was blasted at from behind. Everyone looked and Twilight's eyes lit up, "Princess Celestia…!"

Her teacher smiled at her and her subjects. "I have returned, and I have brought some help with me." That's when the rest of the Unicornicopians flew up alongside her…

"Lightning Dawn…!"

"Starla Shine…!

"Dyno & Myte…!"

"Brain…!"

"Cookie Dough…!"

"Abra Kadabra…!"

Also with them was "Grand Ruler…!" cried Buddy Rose.

The Equestrians were nearly speechless at the sight of him. "Well I'll be gal-darned!" cried Applejack.

"There really is a tri-horned alicorn!" added Rarity.

Grand Ruler gazed furiously at Nightmaricus. "YOU…!" he roared. Nightmaricus could hardly believe her eyes "Celesto…! It can't be…! I thought I had destroyed you when I banished you from his place…"

"You… will soon wish you had!" roared Grand Ruler.

Nightmaricus growled and fired another energy wave straight for him. "Sire…!" cried Artie, but Grand Ruler just hovered there and countered the blast with the uniforce, stronger than ever. "What?" snarled Nightmaricus. Grand Ruler just stood there and narrowed his eyes. "This cannot be!" cried Nightmaricus "Friendship and harmony are useless against my power."

"You fail to see, Nightmaricus." said Grand Ruler "It isn't just friendship and harmony alone that you're facing, but a force far greater than anything you could ever comprehend." He held out the four rainbow stones and shouted "THE MAGIC OF BELIEVING…!" The stone glowed brightly and flew in circles in the air and shed their light on everyone, making the heroes stronger, and Nightmaricus just shielded her eyes. "Stop…! Stop…!" she groaned "I can't stand the light!"

"Everyone, listen…!" Grand Ruler called out "Just look deep within you. Believe in faith, and believe in each other, and together we will vanquish this demonic incarnation forever!"

Twilight and her friends did as they were told, and concentrated. They never felt anything like this, the power of the friendship and harmony seemed to be going crazy! At the same time, everyone else charged up for a good attack, even Brain, and Abra had a bit of magic to spare.

"NO! I… WILL… NOT… BE DESTROYED…!" shouted Nightmaricus.

"NOW…!" shouted Grand Ruler as everyone blasted her with everything they had. Small explosions and bolts of lightning and swarms of magic collided into her in every possible direction. She screeched and shouted and groaned the loudest ever. "THOU SHALT NOT RETURN AGAIN…!" Luna called out to her evil side as Nightmaricus rose up into the skies, flaring and sparking… then she exploded in a huge ball of fire and lightning which shook the kingdom most violently.

"Look…!" cried Lightning. everyone gazed up at the sky and could see images of Night Mare, Mysterious, Rep-Stallion, and Dementia… all wailing as they all twilled round and round, faster and faster and then they were gone. All gone!

Everyone leapt for joy and cheered over their win, but the kingdom still shook violently, and the red stormy skies grew black with darkness.

"Oh, no…! What now…?" cried Twilight.

Nobody knew what was coming, until those two large red eyes appeared in the darkened area of the skies followed by a sinister laugh!

To Be Continued…!

Author's Erie taunt:

Nightmare… Discord… …are dead!

Steal their power!

Feel their power!

*BRIGHT FLASHES*

…

Hehehe… couldn't resist. I got the idea form Gauntlet Dark Legacy.