Harmony's Savior (Sequel to Love on the Orchard)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkbQ71K3n1M

Cred goes to naruto series. please listen while reading thank you. ^_^.

“No….”

I slipped out of consciousnesses and awoke in the prison once more within the caverns under the castle. I could feel the stones underneath me they were cold and familiar. It was far too soon to be back in this cell yet this time I was not alone. I turned to see the horror that was my mother and Applejack both covered in blood and dirt.

It looked as though they were both tortured and then thrown in here some time ago.

“Oh Celestia no…..MOM….APPLEJACK!!!!!”

I raced to them in a panic forcing my body to rid itself of the poison through shear adrenaline. I reached them and brought them closer to me trying to wake them both.

“MOM….mom it’s me Rio your son please get up….YOU HAVE TO GET UP!!!!!”

I could see some motion from her but it was faint. I looked to Applejack who gave the same response. My body began to tremble furiously.

“No this can’t be happening I can’t let this happen I can’t lose them NOT LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!”

Luna’s horn began to glow and with what energy she had left she pressed it against my head. A memory flashed in my mind of what Luna told me on my first day as Captain of the Earthstriders. A memory that I would never forget.

“My darling son there may come a day where the elements of harmony may be in danger of being lost. Should that day ever arise your heart will be the key to protecting them from danger. Trust in your heart my son and it will guide you without fail.”

When the memory had finished playing in my mind I nearly collapsed to the ground after hearing that. I turned to find that there were more cages surrounding this one. They held hostages as well.

“No….how….no how did they….?”

What I saw shook my heart even more pressing it to the point of a true feeling of being torn apart. These are my friend and family. Demi, Ash, James, DerpyApples. I lost complete control of myself at this point. My rage was unleashed and I rammed my skull on the cage and shook with each impact. Every time I struck it the dent in the old rusted bars grew more and more damaged till I finally broke through.

A changeling guard close by by attempted to put me down.

“You there stop where you stand.”

“YOU PUNY EXCUSE FOR A CREATURE I’LL MAKE YOU SUFFER FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO MY FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I torn the spear from his hooves and smashed it over his head leaving him with a concussion. I then slammed my hoof into his neck pressing down hard leaving him with shallow breaths till his life force faded from this world. I charged the rest of the cages breaking them clean open and freeing my family.

most of them were still unconscious so I went to the center of the cave to try to ease myself out of the rage that consumed me. At the center of the cave was a pool and what I saw staring back at me was a monster. the half of my cutie mark that was glowing was the half that held the demonic wings. my eyes were blood red and I became scared.

“what….what am I?”

I looked to the guard who was unfortunate enough to get in my at the time. I cringed at the sight of what my fury brought. I walked over to the corpse and dragged it into a side of the cave and laid him to rest.

“Forgive me for what I have done to you. Not even you deserve what my fury has brought upon you . My you rest in peace.”

“Ri…Rio is that you?”

I cocked my head to see DerpyApples crawling towards me covered in dirt and wounds. she made it to my arms and held on tightly. I was in such shock that I froze. I couldn’t make any motion. I was barely even able to move my head. I noticed a glimmer through what looked like tarnished armour.

“Iron….no not you too. This. no this can’t be right. I can’t let this be.”

I began to rise off the ground and my cutie mark began to glow on the side of the angel wings. My eyes became filled with a bright blue glow, a nova of white light blasted forth from my body surround the cave in a glow that brightened all of the crystals within it.

I knew this magic. It was from my heart that spoke to my mark and allowed me to channel that magic from my body to my friends…no my family healing them of their wounds and bringing them back to life. My heart knew what was right and as such I became the balance within my family making sure that no matter where they were they would be safe.

That is what my heart was telling me from the start. That is what my cutie mark truly was. The light and the darkness within me was both my weapon and my shield to protect my family from harms way finally understood what my special talent was after all this time. I couldn’t believe it took me this long to realize it. I felt so silly not knowing it.

“All my friends…all my family. They are what makes me special it is because of them that I am who I am.”

I could feel my heart and soul connecting with each of theirs and I noticed that each one of them began to lift off the ground. Though my eyes were closed I could feel them lifting off the ground. I felt the magic between us that only a family shared. I pulled them all in close to me and held them as tight as I could.

I wasn’t sure if they were conscious or not but that didn’t stop me from telling them all how I felt. This time my voice did not tremble for I did not fear of losing them now. Not with them so close to me.

“I just want each of you to know that I love you all. You have all made your mark in my heart and that mark will always be shown in who I am as a pony. Never forget that. Now its time to wake up renewed and stronger then ever.”

As the words finished leaving my mouth the magic that surrounded my friends in the the healing embrace vanished and they all stood together as a family. I landed down in the centre of them. When I opened my eyes Demi, Ash and DerpyApples were the first to tackle me to the ground in a loving hug.

“Rio….Rio you’re alive we were so worried.”

“I’m okay in fact I have never been better.”

Iron spoke up in a worried tone looking to Luna and not seeing Celestia anywhere in sight.

“Where is she. Where is Celestia Rio. No….NO I HAVE FAILED HER….. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I walked over to him. and place my hoof on his shoulder.

“No you haven’t Iron. Not unless you have given up hope.”

“I will never give up hope Rio. You know that.”

I smirked at him and nodded.

“Now that’s the Iron we all know.

My whole family quickly examined the area where they were being held captive and then turned to me. Luna was the first to speak.

“Rio what shall we do?”

“Wait why are you all asking me?”

Demi punched me in me arm and spoke.

“Why do you think. You saved us all. We’re your family and you’re our leader we trust you more then anypony Rio. Never forget that.”

I turned to Luna who stood right in front of my beaming with pride.

“Mom how….how did I heal everypony the way I did?”

Luna nuzzled me then spoke softly.

“Rio I placed a magic within your heart a long time ago when I created you that could only be released when you realized how important your family was to you. Rio your special talent is being the savior of harmony. Congratulations my son.”

“My family is the most important thing to me and there is one very special somepony in this family that I .”

I walked up to Applejack who was standing next to Luna and held her hoof in mine.

“Applejack I love you more then words would ever be able to describe. Applejack you are the harmony within my heart I hope you never forget that my sweet angel.”

Even though everypony was watching it didn’t matter to either of us. We kissed each other. They all knew how much I loved her and how much I couldn’t be without her. I loved this pony before me more then life itself. She gave me hope, joy, love, and a place for my heart right next to hers.

I knelt down on one hoof and pulled out the gold band. This time I knew for sure that this was no changeling in front of me. Everypony’s reaction was amazement.

“Applejack when this is all over and we take back the castle would you do me the honor of marrying me and being my special somepony for life?”

A smile began to form on her muzzle and tears began to well up in her eyes. She wiped away the tears and wrapped her arms around my neck lovingly. After a few moments she put her nose to mine and we locked our looks of love to one another. I was graced with another warm collision of our lips and then when the kiss was broken she asked me a question that I remember fondly from years ago.

“Did you really need to ask sugar?”

I smiled and answered with the very same answer I gave her years ago to a very similar question.

“Well I just wanted to ask just in case. You know to be polite.”

“Well then since you were so polite the answer is…. Yes.”

“WAAAAHOOOO YAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

What can I say. I couldn’t hide how happy I was. I mean come on Applejack said yes to marrying me. The pony of my heart said yes and we were going to get married. I held her hoof in mine and placed the gold band on her. She eyed it with a big smile and then she placed her other hoof under my chin to raise my head for a another kiss.

“I love you Rio Earthstrider.”

“I love you too Applejack.”

I noticed all of the warm smiles being sent our way from our family that surrounded us. Luna walked up to me and brought me back to reality for necessary reasons of course.

“Rio we must make our leave. can you lead us out of here?”

“Yes I will get us out of here safely. Ironsides, Demi, DerpyApples, James and Applejack to me. There are going to be a lot of changelings between us and our escape so stay close and lets lead these civilians out of here safely. Understood?”

All together they saluted me. I felt a sense of pride that I had never felt before but I made sure keep focus and enjoy the feeling later.

“Understood.”

“Alright lets get moving.”

The caves that we were making our way through were vast and winding but I just followed where my gut was leading me and thankfully that was enough however when we finally found the exit it lead us to the Chrysalis’s main hall. She added her touch to it that left it lifeless and very unwelcoming. The pillar that once held a glories ivory color now were stained with black and green cracks that looked almost as if they were alive.

The floors felt as though they were grabbing me to hold me down where I stood. I beckoned DerpyApples to my side.

“Listen sis I once we get everypony out of here I need you all to make your leave and make sure that everypony is safe. Can you do that for me.”

She looked at me questioningly.

“Bro were family you know that we can’t just leave you here alone. What if you get captured again. Were getting out of here together as a family and that’s final. I’m not losing my brother for any reason okay?”

I hate to say this but I lied through my teeth to her. I knew something was going to happen because my mark was telling me so. it was as if it was speaking to me. I knew exactly what it was telling me. I knew the danger that was coming and it was Chrysalis but there was something else that was with her.

“Okay sis we’ll do it your way.”

Iron spoke up at first sight of the door.

“There we can get everypony out now. Alright lets go and stay close to me and Demi and we’ll get you out of here safely.”

Iron, Demi, and myself all could feel that this was going way to smoothly. We expected changelings to be after us yet there was nothing. Not one is sight. When to doors opened the only pony that was there was Avari.

“Avari? how did you know we were here?”

She smiled and gave me a hug.

“It was your cutie mark’s magic energies that I felt. It lead me to the castle and well here you all are. I’m here to help so lets get all of these ponies to safety.”

Demi walked up to his lover Ash and wrapped a wing over her to keep her close. I could tell he was worried about her being in this castle of changelings even though he expression remained serious. Ash is fearless when it comes to protecting her family and she held a deep love for Demi. So to ease his heart from worry she gave him a warm kiss to his cheek and told him how much she loved him.

Demi gazed into her eyes and a smile could be seen as he nuzzled her lovingly. He turned his gaze to me and smirked as a way of showing that everything was going to be okay. I guess I held a face of worry. I returned the expression and he made his way out the door with Ash and a few other ponies following him out.

Applejack moved to my side and I caressed her cheek with mine. I gave her a concerned look and continued to nuzzle her.

“Is something wrong Rio?”

“I don’t quite know but something just feels off.”

Cackling echoed from across the room and two figures appeared next to the throne. One I knew was Chrysalis but the other held an aura of power about it. I feared this aura greatly and my body began to shake terribly. AJ held me close to keep me up and warm.

“Rio it’s okay. I’m here darlin. we’ll face her together.”

“AJ….I…I’m scared. I’m so scared of losing you right now but I don’t know why.”

I held onto her for dear life and the trembling only got worse. I could feel her fur coat warming mine. Chrysalis spoke up breaking each others concentration.

“My my my such love between ponies oh how I cannot wait to feed upon it. Do you know what the best part about this is young Earthstrider? The best part is that you will lose everything you ever cared about in this world. I have already taken something from you.”

“What are you talking about Chrysalis? WELL!!!!!!!?”

The other figure stepped forth into the light that shown through a crack in the roof. It was no wonder why my body was shaking like mad. It knew the form well before I recognized it. It was my father. Chrysalis had morphed him into a half human half changeling combination.

Half of his body was skin the other was exposed bone covered in a carapace of black and green veins. I could barely stand. Even with AJ there by my side the fear had over taken me. My uniform felt so heavy and my heart was racing so much as if i had just done a thousand laps, full on sprinting, and non stop.

Before either of us could react two of Chrysalis’s royal guards swooped down, grabbed AJ from my side and brought her to Chrysalis. My body became enraged and the fear had left only burning fury.

“NO AJ GIVE HER BACK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I began to rise off the ground and readied myself to launch at them when Chrysalis’s horn began to glow emerald green. My father’s eyes opened and there was the same color glow coming from them. He was under Chrysalis’s complete control. Her first move sent my father at the doors slamming them shut and placing a barrier over it so that no pony could interfere.

Demi slammed the doors with his hooves in anger sending sparks of void energy dancing off the door.

“NO DAMN IT RIO….RIO!!!!!!!!!!”

Ash and Iron sides moved to him and helped him up from his tear filled rage. Ash spoke up along side Iron Sides.

“Demi its going to be alright. Rio can handle whatever is being thrown at him.”

“She’s right Demi. Have faith in Rio is an Earthstrider after all. They’re as tough as the Warptrotters and don’t forget he is a Warptrotter as well.

“I….can’t lose him I just can’t. We are brothers. We have been for such a long time its just….gah I wish I could be there with him now. Damn it Rio don’t you dare die in there.”

My father turned to me with a murderous frown upon his face. I glared at him and readied myself as best I could but his physical abilities were on a level that I could not even hold a stick to as the saying goes. He readied himself in a stance with his legs parted, his right fist near his face for defense and his left outward of his body in an open palm.

He clenched his right hand into a fist, slammed the ground and launched himself into the air coming down straight at me. As he landed he created a crater with a blast force that sent me into the nearest pillar utterly destroying it. through the smoke of the destruction he came flying at me landing a solid right hay maker to my left cheek. The flurry of blows that I had taken left me stunned and brutally damaged.

It didn’t stop there however. The force of his blows left my hanging in the air and the wind was taken from me as he placed his hands on my shoulders, drove his knee into my gut, wrapped his left arm around my neck and used his body’s swinging force to follow up with an equally brutal knee to my back sending me to the ground.

I tried to stand up but as I had found my bearings I was picked up by my neck and choked. My father placed me on the nearest pillar and readied another powerful strike to my face when I noticed something about him. This was how I know Chrysalis was the worst kind of evil in Equestria. She had completely control over him but she had made sure that he was aware of everything that he was doing. A single tear ran down his cheek glimmering off of his newly hardened skin.