//------------------------------//
// The Fall of Equestria 
// Story: Eternal Mercury 
// by Jhyme 
//------------------------------//

                                                          THE FALL OF EQUESTRIA

The thunderous sound of marching echoed through the halls of canterlot. Vases shook and rumbled upon their marble pedestals. Luna's stain glass windows began to vibrate, and eventually they all shattered, one, by one. Cracks formed in the walls of Canterlot tower. Dried paint and dust fell from the arched ceilings. Terrified by the oncoming army, the inhabitants of Canterlot began to panic, and started to cause stampedes.
“Everybody to the main hall! We are about to be under attack!” Guards shouted out to the frantic ponies. The sight from her balcony horrified Celestia. Upon the horizon, an army of changelings was headed straight through the main gates of Canterlot. They came flooding from the Everfree forest, it is a mystery how no one ever noticed that many changelings, crowded in the forest. Their heavy hooves crushed the paved footpaths and cut down anyone in their path. They stood in formation, in the middle of the Canterlot courtyard. There was a deep, guttural humming coming from the courtyard. It was an eerie sight, They stood as still as statues. And ironically, they were surrounded by them. Chrysalis smiled as she floated before her army. The sight of Canterlot in ruins had made her day, she had been waiting so long for this moment. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. She was giddy with excitement, she materialised a small looking glass and gazed upon the havoc she was wreaking. She giggled a little as she heard the screams come from Canterlot. 
"How exciting!" she laughed.


A stray Changeling struck down Mercury as he attempted to exit the dungeon. A few nights after he realised that the Changelings had invaded Canterlot, he had sent a small group of guards to go out and search for one. They had managed to find a few dozen, although some escaped. He had learnt what he could from the only willing changeling, but his research was cut short by all the commotion above him. He struck the changeling down only to be piled on by several more. In one swift movement, he surrounded himself with a ring of fire, incinerating the rogue Changelings. 
Mercury noticed discord descending from a nearby spiral staircase. Surprisingly, Changelings pain no attention to him. They flew past him as if he were invisible. He would occasionally protect himself with a small shield, but only to stop the Changelings that had been defeated by Mercury as the were sent flying in his direction. Like a magical umbrella.
“They are attacking!” Mercury shouted out to Discord. But Discord did not hear him, he was channelling his magic. A small red orb began to form in-between his hands, it spiralled and hummed. Discord glared at Mercury and silently glanced over to a nearby door, then returned to channeling. Mercury nodded and galloped towards the bolted doors. His horn began to glow as he attempted to loosen each bolt locking the giant doors. His temples bulged as he strained to open the door. Each bolt required immense strength to open.
"Why did i ever lock this door!" Mercury groaned. Metal gears and bolts creaked and ground against each other. The Senn Door was bolted shut and drenched with magic when Discord ruled. It was the only entrance into the Senn's chambers, up until Celestia regained the throne. Mercury gave one last push and the final bolt locking the door twisted out. Mercury grinned as the doors creaked open. Mercury and Discord both exited the towering doors of Canterlot castle only to be met with the hundreds of screaming ponies, and Changelings that attempted to slay them. 


“No… Not again…” Mercury whispered. Flashbacks flooded his mind, as he fell to his knees. Discord finally snapped out of his state and lifted Mercury to his feet.
“Now is not the time! We must reach Celestia!” Discord shouted, over the screams around them. He spotted the distraught princess atop her balcony, and flew up the tower wall, Mercury close behind. They were spotted by dozens of Changelings, and decided it would be best to hurry. The walls started to crumble as Changelings hauled themselves at the tower in hopes of taking down one of the flying enemies. Mercury quickly protected Celestia with a magic shield as he reached her. Then Mercury panicked as he noticed that Luna was not with her. 
“Luna!” He gasped as he gallop through Celestia’s chambers. A tear rolled down Celestia’s cheek and she watched her home fall around her. And to make it worse, she was helpless to stop it. Mercury searched through each room in the tower, but Luna was nowhere in sight. He ran to Canterlot Square and avoided the screaming crowds of ponies trying to escape the vicious Changelings. It pained him to have to leave them behind, to the mercy of those beasts. 

________________________________________________________________________________


“We have to take this fight somewhere else! Too many lives are at stake in canterlot!” Discord shouted as he and Celestia got rid of whatever Changelings they could. Princess Celestia nodded and started to circle the courtyard, keeping as many changelings in the middle as she could. Discord started channel his magic again and began to focus what magic he saved up. Mercury felt Discord channelling his magic and made a sharp turn right. He made his way to Rarity’s boutique. He found Rarity and Twilight casually drinking tea. Surprisingly they had not noticed the noise that boomed from outside. Mercury told them that they were under attack, and decided to rush his story as he noticed that he his hoof had started to disappear.
“Please, Twilight. You must find Luna, she will know what to do!” He told Twilight, as only his head was visible.


“Get ready!” Discord shouted to Celestia as he released a burst of magic. Purple light surrounded them, as everyone in Canterlot Courtyard was being teleported. Random Changelings that strayed from the main group were incinerated in the blinding light that surrounded them. Mercury was sucked from Rarity’s boutique and was sent through a tunnel of magic. Changelings screamed and writhed as they travelled miles away from Canterlot, away from where more disaster could be caused. Chrysalis floated calmly surrounded by her Changelings. 


The ground was singed underneath Celestia’s feet. Her ears rung and she saw double. She managed to track down Mercury and slowly made her way over to him. They were transported to a wide, lush green field, just south of appleloosa. Flower buds were just starting to sprout from the earth, when the Changelings trampled them with no remorse. They were gaining on Celestia and Mercury, and neither of them had enough magic to protect themselves with a shield.


Smoke filled Discords lungs as he woke up. The short blades of grass cut and stung his face, He strained as he attempted to push himself up from the ground. A cherry blossom tree towered above him, its leaves crackling in the wind. A single petal from the tree fell down and landed in front of Discords claw. He clenched his hands and pushed. He locked his knees and managed to stand as he leaned against the tree. He could hear the thundering footsteps of hundreds of changelings in the distance. He cleared his mind and tried to focus. Finding Mercury and Celestia was the most important thing he needed to do right now. He pushed off the tree and started making his way around the army of changelings. If they had not been caught yet, they would at least be near. Circling the group would be the easiest way to find them. Occasionally ducking behind a log or bush when a changeling looked his way. It had taken him almost half an hour to fully circle the group, due to the sheer amount of changelings. He once again leant against the Cherry blossom tree in despair. 
“What if they were teleported to a different location? There is no way I could take on the whole army of changelings alone.” Discord thought. “What if all hope is lost!” There was a sudden crack in the branches above Discord. A clear blur lowered down through the tree. 
“Discord.” Mercury nodded, as he released a camouflage spell. Celestia appeared from behind her, looking extremely distraught.
“She is worried about Luna, that is all. Nothing harms her.” Mercury told discord, noticing his concern. He then pulled him into the cover of the tree when some Changelings turned. Then they started to spread out across the field. They vaguely heard Chrysalis shouting orders to her army, telling them to spread out and search the area.
“What are we to do?” Celestia asked. Mercury placed his camouflage spell on them again and the hid in the shade of the tree.
“Now, we wait.”


“How ah’ we supposed to find Luna with all these people running about?!” Applejack asked. Even though most of the Changeling had been teleported, some still remained and chased down the ponies in Canterlot. Although the guards could easily take the rest out, Applejack still kick one or two in the face when she had the chance. Twilight had asked Applejack to help in their search for Luna, and if they could, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Rarity stated that it would be best if she stayed back in her boutique and continued her work on the armour that Mercury requested. They had already searched most of Canterlot Town and begun to search through the rooms of Canterlot tower. While searching through the balcony of one of the top rooms, Rarity saw Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy circling the tower. She called them in and returned back To Applejack and Twilight. Twilight told them to split up while she went with Applejack to the very top of the tower, to Lunas chambers. Rainbow and Fluttershy went down to the dining chambers of the tower. Rainbows ears popped up as she heard crashes and bangs coming from the tower kitchen. Slowly, she opened the Kitchen door.
“And after we add the flower, next goes in the sugar!” Pinkie told the dozen Changelings, listening intently with chef hats on their heads. She smiled and slowly poured a bag of sugar into the bowl.
“Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash sighed. “You can’t teach a Changeling how to cook!”
The Changelings groaned and frown, as Rainbow pulled Pinkie Pie from her students. 
“Remember what I taught you!” She cried. “Don’t burn them!”
Rainbow Dash grit her teeth as Pinkie Pie writhed in her arms.
“Calm down Pinkie! We have to try and find Luna and meet back up with the others!” Pinkie Pie frowned but eventually co-operated with Rainbow.

Is she in there?” Applejack yelled out to Twilight as she exited the room she just searched. Twilight shook her head and shut the door behind her.
“I don’t think we will every be able to find her! We should meet back up with the others. I’m beginning to regret splitting up with them!” She replied. Applejack nodded, and they both made their way down the winding staircase.
“Crumble, crumble… BOOM!” The stone-wall exploded next to Twilight Sparkle and she was flung down the stairs. Several Changelings flooded in through the hole and lunged at Applejack. She stunned them all in no time, and started to remove the broken bricks the blocked the stairs. She crawled through a crack in the rubble, and galloped down the remainder of the stairs. She found Twilight picking herself off the ground with only a few bruises on her coat.
“Ah you alright sugarcube?” Applejack asked twilight. “Ya’ look a bit rough.”
“Why thank you dear, but I’m perfectly fine.” Twilight replied in a posh voice, uncanny to Rarity’s.
“Uh, now’s not the time to be playing around Twi’, we got work to do!” Applejack said. “Ahem. Sorry Applejack, I think all this is getting to me.” Twilight smiled with a glitter of green in her eye.


“Twilight! Applejack! Have you had any luck?” Fluttershy smiled as she greeted the two.
“Fraid’ not honey. You?” Applejack replied. Fluttershy frowned,
“No. What if we can’t find her! What will happen to Princess Celestia?!” Fluttershy replied as she started to panic. Rainbow Dash hugged her with her wing and calmed her down.
“We should get back to Rarity’s boutique, Princess Luna could be anywhere, but she’s not here.” Rainbow dash suggested. Everybody agreed and they all exited Canterlot tower. A few dozen changelings still surrounded Canterlot town, but luckily the majority of ponies had been evacuated to a safer area. They cautiously evaded the large groups of them and made their way to Rarity’s boutique. 
Her windows were boarded, and Twilight had to knock on the door in a certain pattern. Twilight hummed as she remembered the pattern.
“My little pony, my little pony, ahhhhhh.” Rarity opened the door to a crack as Twilight finished the seven-knock pattern. 
“Quickly, come in dear! The armour is almost complete.” Rarity ushered the five inside and locked the door behind them. The room was filled with several sets of armour, but what really surprised the ponies, was who sat in the room.
“Hello! What did I miss?”

________________________________________________________________________________

“I tried to contact you, but there were too many Changelings in the area! And if I used my magic, they would have sensed it and found us.” Rarity explained.
Luna sat in the middle of the room, painting patterns on the sets of armour. She was like a child who had been given crayons, besides the fact that the paintings were at an expert level. 
“Why are you not already with Celestia?” Twilight asked. Luna laid down her paintbrush and cleaned the excess paint.
“Rarity and I do not have enough magic to transport such a mass across a far distance, which is why we thought it best to wait for you to arrive.” Luna stated.
Twilight nodded and realised that she was right. They could not risk getting caught, and to perform such a spell would exert a massive amount of magic. She asked everybody to gather in a circle.
“Rarity and Luna, we will have to form an even triangle between us, or else our magic will clash and become potentially dangerous.” Twilight said. Applejack pushed the sets of armour inside the circle they had formed and returned to her place. Applejack wasn’t very comfortable near extreme magic. Simple things like levitating objects she didn’t mind as much, but this was making her nervous.
Luna, Twilight and Rarity closed their eyes and began the spell. A thin line of purple magic formed around the circle, which grew thicker as time went by. Items around the room started to shake and paintings and fabric racks fell of the walls. A purple dome almost completely covered the ponies, Twilight flinched when she realised that she had forgotten something extremely important
“Spike!” She gasped, as she dashed out the door.
“Twi- wait!” Applejack shouted, she then quickly covered her mouth. Changelings were still in the city; shouting and running around the place were not smart things to do.


“Spike? Spike!” Twilight shouted as she burst through the door. She searched the whole of downstairs before galloping up the stairs.
“Spike!” She gasped as she found him asleep in his bed. He groaned and rolled over when Twilight nudged him with her hoof.
“Twilight… I’m trying to sleep!” He clasped a sparkling ruby in his claws. Twilights eyes lit up as she saw it, she started tugging at it and Spike instantly sat up in his bed.
“Twilight, what are you doing! This is the gem you got me!” Spike questioned.
“Yes, yes of course. Sorry, I just wanted you to wake up! We need to get to Rarity’s, Canterlot has been under attack!” She said.
“We’re going to Rarity’s?!” Spike cheered, completely oblivious to what Twilight just mentioned. He ran downstairs and grabbed his best bowtie.
“Lets go!” He shouted as he excitedly ran out the house.

________________________________________________________________________________


“H-hi Rarity!” Spike blushed as he entered Rarity’s parlour. Rarity ran over to him and hugged him tightly. She straightened his bowtie.
“Thank god you’re alive!” She sobbed. Twilight then told Spike to get inside the circle as she returned to her place. Luna and Rarity nodded to each other and they once again started the spell. The flowing purple dome encased the group and various fabrics started to set alight. Rarity stifled another sobbed as she tried to focus on the spell. The dome became a sphere as it began to levitate on the floor of Rarity’s boutique, carrying them with it. It emitted sounds similar to the flames of a dragon, roaring around them. Fluttershy whimpered as the dome singed her mane. “WHHHOOOOOSSSSHHHHH”


Princess Celestia groaned. 
“Celestia? What is wrong?” Mercury asked, carrying her before she fell from the tree. “It- Its Luna. She is trying to contact me! I think… I think they are coming here! Yes, they are trying to teleport here!” Celestia said. Celestia’s smile was short lived, she realised that here, in the middle of an army or changelings was probably not the best place to teleport to. “We have to move. They do not know we are cloaked, and when they arrive, they will not have nearly enough magic left to cloak themselves. The changelings will know they are here the instant they arrive. It would be suicide.” Celestia said in dismay. Mercury looked out across the field. “This may sound crazy, but we have to get in front of them all. Before Chrysalis attacked, I had enough time to study a shield spell, similar to you friend shining armour’s. It should be powerful enough to shield us from the Changelings for a short time.” Mercury stated.
“Should be? And what if it isn’t?” Discord cursed. “You do realise how risky this is?” Discord hung upside-down from a branch on the tree. He looked out over the field. “There.” He pointed. “We will have the height advantage.” Mercury nodded and helped Celestia to the ground.
“Quickly, they’re almost here!” Celestia informed. They hurried through the mass of Changelings, but Mercury’s camouflaged was wearing off, few Changelings noticed strange blurs and informed others. They soon had hundreds following.
“WWWWWWWHHHHHHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!”
The six ponies screamed as they landed on the hard earth with a thud. Celestia looked down at them speechless. “Luna...” She gasped.
“Quickly! Get behind me!” Mercury shouted as he turned to the army of changelings. He bowed his head and squinted as he performed the spell. He groaned as a thick layer of magic surrounded them.  Twilight and Rarity help with what little magic they still had, while Luna approached her sister.
“Luna… Don’t scare me like that!” Celestia said, as she gently punched her sister. They hugged each other and then both help Mercury finish off the shield. Changelings rammed into the shield with immense speed, Mercury exhaled as he fell to the ground. He sighed and smiled as the shield hummed above him.
“We are safe. For now.” He said. “Rarity, have you completed to armour?” 
She nodded and motioned towards the sets of armour.
“Excellent, they look fabulous!” He said. Rarity blushed and twisted her hoof on the ground. Luna growled and galloped over to Mercury. She gave him a kiss and glared at Rarity. She scoffed and returned to the others.
“So what do we do about them?” Discord asked, pointing at the oncoming army of Changelings. Chrysalis had been informed of their presence, and was making her way over to their make shift bunker.
Discord helped Mercury up as Chrysalis slowly approached the shield.
“Well, well. What a fabulous reunion!” She smiled. “To bad you will all soon be dead.” Changelings continued to assault the shield.
“You really think you have won this Chrysalis? We may be outnumbered, but we still have enough magic to beat you all!” Mercury argued, although, deep inside, he knew all hope was lost. He walked over to his set of armour and began placing each piece of armour on. His horn began to glow and it seemed like the armour fused with his skin. He inhaled sharply as smoke emitted from the cracks in the armour. Rarity showed everyone to their armour and everyone helped each other put them on.



“I am Prince Eternal Mercury! Bender of the elements!”
Mercury bellowed as he lowered the shield. Celestia gasped but Discord held her back. Mercury walked towards Chrysalis, Changelings lunged at him but Chrysalis called them off with her hoof. Mercury grinned as he was face to face with chrysalis. He directed his view to the deep blue crown on her head. He twisted his hoof and Chrysalis’s hoofs were covered in stone chains. He reached for the crown, but was blown back by a burst of powerful magic. Discord groaned as he caught him. His arms were nearly ripped off by the speed he caught him at. He placed Mercury down and cracked his knuckles. He tensed and a clump of dark pink clouds formed over Chrysalis and her army. Rain hissed as it fell from the sky.
Chrysalis cackled. “Do you really think a little rain will harm me?” she laughed.
Discord smiled and clicked his fingers. A small cup formed in his claw.
“Not just rain, Chocolate rain!” He laughed, as he let the rain pour into the cup. He smiled as he began drinking the glass, leaving behind chocolate in the shape of a cup.
“The rain is just to loosen things up!” Grinned Mercury, as he pushed himself up from the ground. “This is the main event!” Mercury roared as he slammed his hooves into the ground. Plates of earth rose and cracked as lightning strikes the ground. Mercury galloped into the hundreds of Changelings, His horn glowed a bright red as fire began to cover him. Changelings were burnt and set alight as he rammed into them. Weeds began to tangle around the Changelings legs as Discord thrust his hands into the earth. He pulled and pushed, throwing Changelings around. He quite enjoyed it. Rainbow Dash shot up into the clouds, and prepared for a sonic rainboom. Rarity levitated rocks over to applejack, which she then bucked across the field, crashing into the earth and taking out dozens of Changelings. Celestia used the power of the suns rays, and covered the battlefield. Changelings screamed as the sun burnt their brittle skin. Even more holes formed in their skin. Fluttershy whimpered and closed her eyes. Screams filled her ears and a tear rolled down her cheek. Luna tried her best to comfort her, wrapping her wing around Fluttershy.
Behind the writhing battle, Twilight Sparkle sat and grinned. She looked over to Chrysalis, who smiled and nodded towards her. She slowly began to approach applejack from behind. She put on a fake frown when Rarity looked at her, until she returned to gathering boulders. Twilights took a rock from behind and walked up to Applejack.
“I hate purple.” She murmured, as she lifted the rock above her head.


“Did you say something twi-?” Applejack asked. She turned and saw Twilight lifting a rock above her head, with a grin on her face. She gasped and jumped to the side as Twilight quickly slammed the rock into the ground.
“Twi-, What are ya’ doing!” Applejack asked. “Ahm’ not the enemy here!”
Twilight’s mane and fur began to darken. Her legs grew dimples, which turned into pin sized holes. “Twilight? You- you’re a Changeling! Ah’ shoulda’ known!” Applejack gasped. She continued to dodge her attacks, and when she got close enough, Applejack kicked her in the face. Twilight’s helmet came flying off, and the changeling hit the floor with a thud.
“Gosh darnit! She was a changeling the whole darn time! But where’s the real Twilight?” Applejack said to herself. Rarity dropped the boulders she was carrying when she saw Applejack kick Twilight in the face.
“Applejack! What on earth are you doing to poor Twilight!?” She asked, rushing to Twilights aid. She removed strands of hair from her face, when twilights face became horribly disfigured. Holes littered her legs, and her fur became darker.
“Twi- Twilights a changeling?!” Rarity screamed in shock. Applejack pulled her away. “Fraid so hun’. Now come on, we gotta’ keep bucking these rocks!” Applejack smiled. Rarity continued to haul the boulders over the Applejack.


Discord clenched his claw and his horns glowed. He squinted his eyes and a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. Changelings covered him and he could barely move his arm. He slowly twisted his hand, and then released his fist. A small blue ball floated in the palm of his hand. The dozens of Changelings surrounding him became frozen in time, and dropped the floor. Discord smiled as his work and clicked his fingers. Celestia and Luna were using their powers over the moon and sun to affect the Changelings balance. It was as if gravity left the changelings and they floated away from the battlefield. Rainbow Dash had finally reappeared, with tremendous speed. She was headed straight for the ground until she sharply rose and a Sonic Rainboom covered the field, the array of seven colours blinded the Changelings below, and the sheer force of it blew the rest back. Chrysalis floated above the battle. Occasionally firing a burst of magic down to stir things up. They had taken out a fair amount of the Changelings, but they still flooded the battle. Every second it seemed like there was more and more. Hope began to dwindle.     
“I don’t think we can make it!” Cried Applejack. Rarity could no longer find any boulders, and so they both help Pinkie Pie take out as many Changelings as possible.
“Don’t worry, I think we will make it.” Rainbow dash smiled as she looked across the field. The was a low hum of hundreds of wings flapping.
Hundreds of ponies were approaching from the north. Earth pony’s, Pegasi, and Unicorns all stampeded in from the north.
“What did you think me and Fluttershy we doing, flying around canterlot? We had already told all of skydale that we needed aid.” Rainbow Dash said.
Gilda soared in from the pack, her claws clasping the backs of Changelings and carrying them off. Even Trixie had been informed. She used what magic she had to create a tornado of magic, carrying Changelings and scattering them.
Derpy Hooves dropped explosive packages onto the field, taking out groups of Changelings at I time. She probably didn’t even realise she was doing it.
Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle came in behind, carrying what seemed to be a Unicorn. 
“is that.. Twilight!” Spike shouted. The Crusaders gently dropped her to the ground where Fluttershy and Spike tended to her. Her fur was covered in cuts and bruises and her leg seemed to be broken.
“We found her in the Everfree forest!” Scootaloo said.
“We were trying to get cutie marks in gardening, but we got lost!” Sweetie Belle added. Applejack ran over to her sister and hugged her tightly.
“I want you and your friends to go back to the farm!” Applejack said to her. “This is no place for fillies, Grandma smith will take care of y’all”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac added, as he came up behind the Crusaders. Applejack nodded to her big brother and the galloped onto the field. The earth seemed to shake when Big Mac slammed down his back hooves into the faces of the Changelings.


Twilight was shocked when she regained consciousness. There was fire and blood all around her, the war was raging.
“What… What’s happening?” She murmured. Fluttershy applied water to her wounds. 
“Please Twilight, don’t get up.” Fluttershy whispered. She bandaged her leg and other cuts. Gently, she helped Twilight to her feet. She asked if she was okay to stand and returned to aid other pony’s that had been injured.
“Spike? Spike!” Twilight called. She heard the taps of footsteps behind her and turned to see Spikes face smiling at her.
“Thank Celestia you’re okay Twilight!” He said, hugging her leg. Twilight nuzzled his head and pulled him onto her back.
“Lets go and see where we can help!” Twilight suggested, wit great enthusiasm.
Spike nodded and they entered the battlefield.
Discord groaned as a changeling speared him. He pushed himself of the ground and dodged its next attacks. He put both his hangs together and started twisting his palms together. Steam emitted from his fist and when he open his fist, a small blue flame lay inside. He thrust it against the Changeling as it lunged at him, and the changeling was instantly disintegrated. He smiled as the dust blew away, until a dark blue smoke started to surround him. Discords feet were stuck to the ground, with a force almost as powerful as Mercury’s chains. He started tugging, but stopped before he dislocated his knee. A dark shadow floated before him. There was a low hiss as it landed on the ground.
“Well, well.” It spoke. “How the mighty hath fallen.” Discord instantly knew the poisonous voice that spoke. Chrysalis.  He cleared his throat and spoke clearly.
“Do what you will, but know this. You cannot win this, Chrysalis. You may have had a chance, but the with the power of Equestria, we will succeed.” 
“Oh please, spare me your pathetic speech. This isn’t The Notebook.” She laughed. Discord couldn’t help but clench his teeth brought him to his knees. Gravity was far more intense than usual, and Discord legs felt like they were snapping.
“You call yourself the lord of chaos. Oh how you have stooped. You were once respectful.” She spat. “You used to be one of ten Senns!” Discord knew she was attempting to play mind games, but he felt a need to hear her out.
“You were once so worthy, but in their eyes, all the saw was a monster.” Discord grinded his teeth. The word cut deep, and his anger was overflowing. Memories flooded his mind. Bad memories.
“Shut up.” Discord groaned. “Shut. Up.” He slammed his fist against the ground.
“Your mind games are pitiful, tasteless. Have you no sense of chaos?” He smiled. At the least, he could still keep a sense of humour. “I have seen a pigeon cause more chaos when it steals a chip.” Chrysalis gave him a fierce snarl; She slapped him with the base of her hoof. “You could have been important, been king! But no, a monster could never be king. You killed them yet you were still not worthy in the eyes of others. You were not worthy in the eyes of her. All she saw was a monster. She is not worthy of the throne, and neither were you.” This tipped Discord over the edge. Anything else he could handle, but her? Using Celestia against him was a cheap move, but it worked. Discord became enraged, and pulled the earth from beneath him. Slamming his fists into the space where Chrysalis was. She appeared behind him, and Discord swung backwards. The dark mist lifted, and Discord entered the fight again. Slamming through piles of Changelings, he tore up the earth behind him. Almost hitting his allies, he charged through the field.


“Discord!” Mercury shouted in an attempt for his attention. When he continued, Mercury decided he had to be stopped. He slammed his hooves into the earth and chains entangled Discords feet. Discord let out a roar and strained as he pulled against the stone chains. Mercury was shocked to see that the chains were beginning to crack. His horn hummed as he intensified the chains. They covered his legs and lower back. They continued to cover his body until he was fully immobilised. Discord almost shattered his bones as she struggled against his stone prison.
“Discord. Calm down.” Mercury said sternly. His eyes glared as he stared through Discord. Discord sensed his anger, and stopped struggling. He took a dozen deep breaths and the chains slid off him.
“Terribly sorry.” Discord apologized. “I don’t know what came over me.” He smiled. He stepped out of the bundle of chains as they broke down into dust.


Celestia stretched her wings as sunlight burst onto the field. The clouds had been separated, and allowed sunlight rays to flood onto everyone. The bright glow lit up the field like a parade. The sun burnt the eyes of the Changelings, making them fall on the spot. Yet the Changelings who had found shade fought on, the war still raged. Luckily, the odds were tipping. Hundreds of changelings had been taken out over what seemed like days. The ponies of Equestria fought hard, yet some had fallen. Gilda had sustained serious injuries to her wings, and Trixie had been deprived of her magic, which was potentially deadly for a unicorn. Fluttershy tended to whom she could, but soon there were too much for her to take care of. A tear rolled down her cheek as she saw the hundreds of ponys who needed her aid around her. There was jut too much for her to handle. She sobbed and dropped to the floor.
“I cant do it.” She sobbed. “There’s just to many.” Familiar voices surrounded her and warmed her soul. 
“Don’t worry darl’. We can help you!” Applejack smiled, helping her off the ground. 
“Yeah! You’ve done so much for everyone else, its time someone did something for you!” Pinkie Pie added. Fluttershy wiped the tears from her cheeks and thank her friends.
“Thank you- all.” She smiled. Applejack and Pinkie helped pull the injured Pony’s off the field and helped Fluttershy tend to their injuries. Within hours almost all of the injured pony’s had been healed of their wounds. The three smiled at their work, they gave Fluttershy a hug and returned to the battle.


“Twilight, I need your assistance.” Mercury shouted. Twilight limped over and asked what he needed. “I know this may be troubling for you, but you need to perform a spell on Spike.” Twilight gasped at the request.
“What kind of spell? Will it be dangerous?” She babbled. Mercury calmed her and answer plainly.
“It may be dangerous, but you need to do it. It could play a massive part in this war, and give us the advantage.” Twilight nodded and knew what she must do. She had the perfect spell for a  moment like this, but she had only used it once. She called spike over and told him what she was planning to do. Spike twiddled his thumb as he was obviously nervous.
“Wi- Will it hurt?” He whispered. Twilight closed her eyes and answered honestly.
“I do not know, but if it does, please, forgive me.” She replied. Spike nodded and stood a distance from her. Twilight recalled on her memory from when she was applying to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. She channelled her magic and her horn glew a bright purple. She ground her teeth together and strained. Her eyes began to glow a clear white, and she started to levitate off the ground. Spike was about to run to her, when Mercury held him to the ground with his chains. He gave him an apologetic look, but Spike understood. He stood back in place and Mercury released his chains. Twilight was nearly a metre off the ground, and her horn started to emit rays of light. A thin ray fired towards spike. He strained as the rays covered his body. He began to grow before Twilight and mercury, the bright red bowtie ripped around his neck.
“Amazing.” Mercury gasped. “Such magic is amazing.” Spike had to fall onto all four legs, as he became ginormous. Celestia looked at Twilight and Spike from afar, and instantly knew what spell Twilight was performing. It was what made Celestia so curious about Twilight. The power she held was released when Twilight applied so many years ago. The egg that Twilight had tried so hard to break, shattered and the dragon inside was enlarged to the ginormous beast in front of Mercury now. From then on, Celestia vowed to train Twilight, so she could control that power. Celestia smiled as she saw her student controlling and contorting the writhing magic she saw so many years ago. Twilight began to fall to the floor, only to be caught by the ginormous beast that Spike had become. He gently placed her onto the ground next to mercury. He nodded and charged onto the field. Changelings cowered as the beast came for them. 


Chrysalis gasped and dodged his swipes at her. She fell onto the field and ran for her corrupted life. Spike lost interest and began to terrorise the other Changelings. Chrysalis panted under the protection of a cherry blossom tree. An idea popped into her head. She smiled at the deviousness of it. She flew out from under the tree and grabbed a nearby Changeling by the throat. She flooded magic into him, ignoring the screams of her follower. His body and arms ballooned, and his eyes bulged. His screams became roars as his body grew into a massive beast, nearing Spikes size. Chrysalis smiled at her work, and sent the Changeling off. It slammed into spike, and Spike roared as the Changeling slashed his claws into him. Spike swung at the Changeling, yet he dodged it with extreme speed, and flew into the air. It crashed down into Spike, slamming him into the cold, hard earth. Spike groaned as the Changeling twisted its foot into Spikes gut.
Spike placed his hand into the ground, and pushed. The changeling was heavy, but it soon began to raise. He strained and pushed hard. He pulled his leg under him, and with his other hand, grabbed the Changeling by the neck. He clenched his claw and slammed the Changeling into the ground. His roared split tree’s and blood began to drip out of the Changelings ear. He began to land a dozen blows into the Changelings face, punching harder and harder, the Changelings skull began to crack. Spike let out a roar of victory, as the giant Changeling lay bloody and broken on the ground.


Chrysalis hissed and frowned, as her minion had been defeated. She had been humiliated, and this was not how her plan was supposed to go. She should have kept a few Changelings to guard Twilight. Oh how stupid she felt! But all was not lost. She still had a few tricks up her sleeve, or, the Shade did. As time passed, she felt the Shade growing stronger and stronger, if she was not careful, it may take over her. But her mind was clear and her intentions clearer. She had to get to Mercury, if not, she was a goner.


“Enough.”
Chrysalis gasped as Mercury stood in her path. Behind him stood the rest of his so-called army. Many were injured, but they still stood tall and proud. Chrysalis’s army had been defeated, and her plan failed.
“You thought you could us on? You were wrong. We have Equestria to back us up, together, we are Equestria. We are what make up the Bakers, the guard, and the Civilians of Equestria. Without us, there would be nothing. So you should think twice before taking us on!” He yelled. Thousands of cheers came from the citizens of Equestria behind him. Pegasi flew into the air, and Unicorns let out fireworks into the sky. Mercury took a step towards Chrysalis.
“You never had a chance.” He grinned. Chrysalis looked around her. Her army was broken and defeated. Thousands of Changelings lay before her. Mercury was right. They never had a chance. But her?


Chrysalis let out a hair splitting scream, and a dark blue mist flooded out of her. Holes re-appeared in her body. Her hair returned to a dark, greasy colour.
"No!" She hissed, wincing as he skin began to dry, and crack. "No! We had a deal!" But it laughed in her face. The Shade had finished with her. It surrounded her body and left a pile of ash behind. It flung itself to Mercury, tying itself to his legs. He gasped but his body froze. Celestia, Luna and Discord dashed to his aid.
“No!” He shouted. “Stay back!” He groaned as it began to cover his body. It covered his mane, and it begun to dry out and crack.

________________________________________________________________________________

‘I knew it” Mercury groaned . “This was you plan all along. The war was merely a distraction. You just needed time to fully take over Chrysalis. It was all your plan… to get back at me. But since you took my power. I have prepared. I knew one day you would come for me again. I have regained my strength since you took it, and have created a spell for a time just like this. It was to be used as a failsafe, if my power combined with Celestia’s and Luna’s was not strong enough” Mercury fell to his knee’s as The Shade started to over power him. He groaned as the Shade played with his mind, causing hallucinations. “You will not win, not this time. Long ago I took a vow to protect Equestria, and I will not break that. Never.” He tried to smile as he turned to Luna. His legs buckled and his mouth quivered.
“Luna… forgive me” Mercury smiled, as his horn begun to glow. He clenched his teeth tightly. He relaxed, as pain exited from his body. His leg grew pale, and began to grey. His legs began to crack and his grew very still. Celestia and Discord knew what he was doing. Celestia grabbed Luna before she ran at him. Mercury’s Legs began to turn into stone, and his smile turned left him. His body cracked and froze, as he was soon completely stone. Luna was left speechless, as Mercury said no more.


Luna sobbed and fell to the floor. “Mercury... Merc?” She gasped. She stabbed the floor with her hoof and Celestia gently cradled her. Celestia couldn’t help but let a tear roll down her cheek. Mercury stood still, and it seemed as if all of Equestria was quiet. A few ponies’ whispered to other, solemn looks on their faces.
“No.” Discord whispered under his breath. “I will not allow Equestria to be left without a ruler. Not again, for whatever reason.” Discord shook his head and sighed, he went through dozens of spells in his head, searching for the one to make things right. A sudden spark flashed in his eyes, and he grinned until he felt his cheek muscles would snap. He closed his eyes as he mustered all of his strength together, his claws and paw spun and twisted. A small blue, rotating ball formed in his palm. Celestia recognized the spell from one of her books she reluctantly gave to him. Perhaps it was not such a bad idea to give him new 'reading material' after all. She shut her eyes and pointed her horn and the ball. A thick swirl of dull green magic circled her horn, she strained as her horns magic intensified. Twilight and Rarity also added what magic they had left, transforming the ball into a large blue sphere. Its colour was almost blinding. Luna wiped the tears from her eyes and added the final amount of magic needed. The ball slowed its rotation and hovered in Discords hand. It glowed a blinding white, and emitted an extreme amount of heat. Discord thrust it into Mercury’s stone chest, The stone cracked and crumbled, but nothing moved. Discord slumped to the ground speechless.
“I- I thought it would work.” He whispered, exhausted.
“Its okay, Discord. You tried your best.” Celestia re-assured him.
“Wait.” He whispered. “It needs a vessel!” Discord shouted. Discord turned to Luna. “Please, I require a vessel of emotional attachment!” Luna looked around for something to give to Discord. She then removed her crown from her head. She looked down at the midnight coloured crown, as a tear dropped from her eye. It traced through the indents in the crown.
“Don’t worry Luna, we have a dozen more at the castle!” Celestia laughed.
Luna smiled and nodded, handing the crown to Discord.
With his claw crossed, he placed the crown onto Mercury’s head. All was silent for a moment, but then there was a low rumble. The cracks on Mercury’s stone skin started to split and cover his body. Dust and steam came from the cracks and a deep blue mist flowed through them. The mist flooded into the crown, and it begun to ring.