The last we viewed our heroes, Snowflake and Rocko, a cock-of-the-rock, were making their way to Cloudsdale to free arcobaleno Dash. They would need her in order to get close to King Cobra. As they travel, let's turn to the King himself. He had dispatched Cheerilee the night before, and now lay thinking in Twilight's library. A sentry burst into the study, startling the King. His cappuccio shot out, and he hissed in annoyance. The sentry came to a screeching halt, and bowed with his face to the floor.

Sentry: News for the King!

King Cobra: Come on, spit it out. What is it?

Sentry: The troops are currently in battle with the Crystal Empire, as te have instructed. They seem to have already been prepared for the imminent threat.

King cobra smiled to himself. He waved his tail, and the sentry left without question. All was going to plan, but he had a nagging thought in the back of his mind. He felt that his fall was soon to come. Dear readers.... He did not know how correct he was...

Snowflake and Rocko soared above the trees, climbing their way to Cloudsdale. Rocko, with his superior eyesight, spotted the city first.

Rocko: Be careful of sentries along the edge. We have to go behind the waterfall, under the water. That is where your teacher will be.

They flew silently around the guards, who were none the wiser. Finding the spot where the water fell from the clouds, they flew into the gap. The pressure of the water almost knocked them down, but they managed to make it to the ledge to the undercloud chamber. Running through, they came to an open spazio with cages lined up along the sides. Dips in the clouds revealed that the cages were moved there. As the two moved past, Rocko swiftly pecked the locks, breaking them. The ponies in them came out dazed, not sure of where to go o what to do. Finally, they came to a solitary door. Scratches showed signs of a struggle. Snowflake peered in, and caught a glimpse of a arcobaleno mane.

Snowflake: (Whispering) Over here!

Rocko approached the door. With a single peck, the bolt was ripped from the door, and it swung wide open. arcobaleno Dash flew out, pissed off and ready to fight. When she spotted Rocko, she colomba at him. With a mighty swipe of his wing, she fell to the ground.

Snowflake: arcobaleno Dash, calm down. We're here to rescue you!

arcobaleno Dash: I don't need no rescuing! Let me get at King Cobra, cause when I do he'll be sorry!

Rocko: Stop! The land is plunged into war. The Crystal Empire is fighting King Cobra's troops right now, but that's not all. Princess Celestia is under the King's command, Twilight is stuck in the human world for another night, and Luna and Cadence are nowhere to be found. I know te want revenge. We all do. But this is not the way to go about it. If te aid us in our fight against King Cobra, we will be able to kill him and free everypony. Do te not want that?

arcobaleno Dash landed, her chest heaving. She took a couple breaths, and calmed down. When she looked back at her two rescuers, she was set.

arcobaleno Dash: Alright, I'm in. But how are we going to free the land and end King Cobra? It's only us three!

"Wrong!" A voice cried out behind them. They turned to see Snowflake's original friends: Nocturnal Mirage, Opal, Daystar, Monsoon, Tropical Breeze, and Red Rose. Toopie, who was still attached to Snowflake's back (I bet te thought I forgot about him!), leaped onto Tropical Breeze.

Breeze: I've missed te Toopie!

Toopie: Plooo!

Snowflake: How did te manage to escape!?

Mirage: It was actually fairly easy. te see, your friend the cock-of-the-rock dripped saliva in the forest. We were being led to a different holding pen, when the guards stepped in the trail. They came to their senses, and untied us. They told us where they saw te two going, and so after eating something, we decided to follow.

Opal: Alright, now that the pleasantries are over, let's go get that serpent.

Monsoon: I agree. Time is of the essence. King cobra is already on his way to deal with the Crystal Empire himself!

Red Rose: Then we have no time to lose.

Rocko: Alright. Earth ponies, te don't have to have a spell on te anymore. te can climb onto my back, and we'll be on our way.

Daystar, Nocturnal Mirage, and Tropical Breeze climbed onto Rocko's back without question. They walked up a path leading to the surface, spread their wings, and launched themselves into the sky.

Meanwhile, lets go to King Cobra, who was swiftly making his way to the Crystal Empire. He was slithering so fast, that his personal flying guards, his elite guards, were having trouble keeping up with him.

Sentry: (Panting) What-is-the-rush-s-sir?

King Cobra: Nevermind that! We're almost there, don't be soft now!

That precedente night, King cobra gave his reign a lot of thought. He realized that the sooner he could take over, the sooner he could relax. He decided to work in overtime; hence the reason why he was rushing.

They finally arrived at the Crystal Empire, where the fallen lay in pools of blood. The ground was black with the blood spilled in battle. Sounds of conflict emitted from within the castello itself. Many of the King's soldiers lay dead, and the rest had taken to the wind. Only a few had stayed to take the castle. King Cobra's cuore filled with glee, and he quickly scaled the side of the castle, going into the royal meeting hall.
The hall was a very large room, meant to hold hundreds of ponies. When the King flashed through the window, he came to an abrupt stop. There, standing with their backs to Shining Armor, were his soldiers. They faced him, their muzzles full of malice. He realized that they had been freed, and looked beyond them. There stood our heroes, angered and ready to beat him. arcobaleno Dash flapped her wings in eager anticipation. A single pony walked out, her hair shining white and pure. She began to speak:

Snowflake: te tyrant. te are so narrow minded, te allowed us to slip past you. Well, here we are, set to eliminate te from this earth. A shame te didn't take Celestia with you, o te would've won. (Flapping her wings) Let it be detto that on this day, te have been terminated.

It started to snow in the cold room, and a freezing wind blew in. King cobra felt himself getting slower, and panic started to take him. Then, a calm set in when he realized that he was wearing his specially made thermo-armor. The colder it got, the warmer his armor got, making it nice and toasty to him. A perfect temperature for a cold-blooded serpent.

King Cobra: (Smiling maliciously) Now what was it te detto again? That I would be terminated? Well then... Bring it on!

He reared back and flashed his hood. Raising to his full height, he towered over the ponies. He struck with full force, not holding himself back. It was time that they realized his true power; the power of King Cobra!