The last we saw our heroes, the horrible King کوبرا was just attacking; his body was not affected سے طرف کی the icy breeze caused سے طرف کی Snowflake. But before we return to them, let's travel hundreds of feet below the earth, in a barely lit cavern. Laying around the light were Princess Cadence and Princess Luna. Leaning up against the closest دیوار was a large mirror. As Luna and Cadence lay asleep, the mirror began to glow and rattle. Luna awoke, startled. She nudged Cadence, and they summoned the last of their strength, preparing to fight. Out of the mirror walked a fellow ٹٹو with a purple and black mane: Princess Twilight Sparkle!

Luna: Twilight! Finally you've come! We need your help getting out of this cave!

Cadence: We don't have any energy to get out ourselves...

Twilight: Calm down, please. I would be able to get us out of here, if I knew where 'here' was. There is a pathway, though. Let's follow it; I sense that it leads to a way out.

All three alicorns began following the light now being emitted from Twilight's horn. Let's escape from this destitute scene, to yet another.

King Cobra, in all of his power, struck with the force of a dragon. The ponies dodged aside as the King's head cracked the ground where they had stood. He rose again, not phased.

Breeze: How the heck are we going to kill him? We can't even reach him!

Mirage: There is a way!

King کوبرا whipped his tail around, knocking them to the floor. They quickly rose and leapt about, making themselves hard to hit targets.

Monsoon: Snowflake, if آپ can continue to make it snow, I can add on to it with my own rain. Then, Daystar and Mirage-*

The tail struck Rocko, sending the huge bird flying backwards.

Monsoon: Rocko! Mirage, آپ and Daystar then cook the serpent in his own armor. Go now!

Monsoon rose, summoning the winds for his namesake. It started to rain heavily, and it grew very cold and windy in the royal hall of the Crystal Castle. Snowflake beat her wings even harder, making the temperature below freezing.

Shining Armor: Alright, آپ heard him! The rest of you, strike and retreat!

The others attacked King Cobra, not even putting a dent in his armor. The King continued to سوئنگ, جھول about, knocking ponies around. He shot poison from his fangs, it spraying everywhere. He hit two of his former guards, and they fell where they stood in a pool of venom. The King's armor got even hotter as the room got colder, but his speed started to slow. Monsoon realized that the armor was making it too hot for the snake! It was meant to repel cold, but not heat. Monsoon landed, and Snowflake followed.

Monsoon: Daystar! Mirage! Now!

The rest of the ponies ran away as the two brave souls stepped forward. King کوبرا rose once more, anger and malice in his pitless eyes. Just before he struck, Mirage's hair caught آگ کے, آگ and rose into a pillar of flame. Daystar rose above King کوبرا and spread his wings, turning into a miniature sun.

Heat blasted across the floor, and the other ponies کبوتر behind the throne. The air rolled with the sheer power of fire, and King کوبرا stopped his advancement. He flipped onto his back and flung about, writhing in agony. Red Rose took the opportunity and stepped from behind the throne. Grabbing a sword, she took aim, and threw the sword.

The blade flew through the air, a line of light. It pierced the chink of the armor behind King Cobra's neck, and went through, sticking in the far wall. King کوبرا paused, and looked down at his own blood pouring from his throat. Looking at Red Rose, King کوبرا gave one last hiss before collapsing. His head collided with the ground, and his violent contractions ceased. Blood pooled around his head as the two hot ponies cooled off. Shining Armor emerged from behind the تخت with a triumphant smile on his face.

Shining Armor: My ponies... We have won!

Everypony shouted for joy, leaping about. Amid the celebration, the four Princesses walked in. Everyone turned and bowed, glad to see that Celestia was in her correct state of mind. They walked straight to our heroes; Monsoon, Snowflake, Nocturnal Mirage, Daystar, Opal, قوس قزح Dash, Tropical Breeze, and Rocko. Red Rose was nowhere to be seen.

Celestia: My dear ponies. I thank آپ so much for freeing us from the grip of that tyrant, and bringing peace to the land once again. We have lost many, yes, but we have gotten rid of a threat that could have escalated into something unimaginable. No; آپ got rid of it. And now, my sister and I can clean up the bodies, and prepare for a celebration!

Cheering arose from outside. They all ran to the window, and saw all of the ponies freed from King Cobra's venom. They cheered theirs and our heroes, who would be called the bravest heroes in all of Equestria!

Red Rose took to the wind, putting as much distance between her and the Crystal Empire as much as possible. She had been running for hours, imagining that no one suspected her leaving, as they were too busy celebrating. She came to a large mountain in the middle of the Everfree Forest, and stopped. Running around a huge boulder, she paused again. Clopping her hooves three times, the boulder shifted. An opening just large enough to fit her in it appeared, and she slipped inside to a dark stairway. With three مزید clops, the opening closed.

Down the stairs she ran, able to make her way in complete darkness. Finally, she came to a well-lit room. It was much مزید expansive on the inside, though with a sinister aura. There was only a small but ornate mat, an enchantment book, and a دیوار of various weapons. Red Rose turned her attention to a figure sitting on the mat, silhouetted against the candles in front of it. It tilted its head a bit to the side, hearing her approach. She bowed low to the ground, only glancing quickly enough to see his broken horn.

Red Rose: My love, just as آپ predicted, King کوبرا has fallen.

Figure: آپ were wise to align yourself with those fools, my dear. Are they prepared for battle?

Red Rose: (Shaking her head) Most of the army was eradicated سے طرف کی that bothersome serpent. Your ascension will only come through the elimination of the four princesses, and the Heroes of Equestria. But, آپ should have no problem, my King.

The figure turned, and his face was cast into light. His dark expression was twisted with an evil smile, and his broken horn was thrown into even greater relief. He may have had a broken horn, but one could tell that this was a regal figure. A ruler.

He glanced towards the shadows on his right, and emerged another figure. Her greenish-blue webbed wings spread, she sauntered into the light. Her fierce teeth gleaming in the candlelight, she gave a wicked laugh.

Red Rose: (With an evil grin) My King Sombra. آپ and Queen Crysalis will have no problem taking over the entirety of Equestria with your combined might.

King Sombra: (Nodding) Indeed. What do آپ say, Crysalis? Ready to conquer and enslave every ٹٹو in this pathetic land?

Queen Crysalis: (Giving that smile again) Ooh... This is going to be FUN!