A witch's Redemption.

The 'Excalibur' launched all 48 if it's fighters and reloaded it's empty missile silos, the 'Foxfire' who was back to full strength moved itself into blockade position just in front of the station along side the 'Excalibur'. All fighters stuck to their squadrons and set up a fighter screen to intercept incoming fire. On the station, hatches that had remained closed for years opened to reveal a deadly array of weapons and defences.

Outside the asteroid field the Lucian alliance began to place devices within it that slowly began to make holes in the field.

Three jump points opened above the defenders and three Omega class ships came out, the lead ship baring the name 'Raven' while the others 'Orpheus' and 'Goliath'.

On the 'Excalibur' Carter opened a Chanel to the new arrivals "This is the Earth vessels, please identify your selves"

"Greetings Colonel Carter, it is good to see you again my friend"

"Teal'c? What are you doing here? Where did you get those ships?"

"We found a number of them much like you found your new ships we were asked to come here by an unknown source"

"That was the advanced intelligence aboard the station, look Teal'c we could use your help here, even with the 'Foxfire'. And the station we are really outmatched" Carter explained "Think you can lend a hand?"

"Indeed"

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Lucy, Twilight and the others followed the echo of Starswirl through the empty corridors ot the station towards what he said was a docking port.

Lucy still was thinking about what she had been told, Twilight had told her about her meeting with this Kosh and Shadow and after what Starswirl had said she was still having trouble believing that they had predicted all this and planed for them to be here.

"As I told you earlier, we hid all the ship's that the other universers had brought with them for your governments to find and use in the coming conflict" he stopped at a large window with an airlock next to it and asked them to look out "But there was one that stayed here for both bearers of the Crimson Roses"

Docked outside lit by the lights on the station was a White Star light cruiser, the ship looked exactly like what it and it's sister ships were in the recordings, blue and purple organic hull with it's weapons sticking out of its noises and wing engines, the ship looked as beautiful in the light of the station a symbol of a sword behind a shield with the number 3 was painted on the side of the vessels neck. It was clearly offline due to how all the lights that glowed in the recordings were dark.

Starswirl knocked on the window loudly "Saki! Wakeup you old girl!" the White star faintly came online for a moment but powers down again "Saki Rosemary Wake up this instant or so help me I will..." The annoyed echo warned, but the ship simply stayed off "Ok that's it!"

*Ah Starswirl I was only playing with you* everyone except Twilight, Lucy, Flare and Applejack were surprised by the voice in their heads *So these are the ones eh?*

"Yes Saki they are the ones" Starswirl said to the ship "you know what to do"

*yeah yeah, come on you lot get aboard me* the ship said as it powered up *Looks like your friends are going to need all the help they can get and I need a crew*

After a few cautious steps they began to make their way onto the White star, but Starswirl put his hoof up to stop Lucy and Twilight "A moment please?" as the others boarded the ship the two Rose bearers stepped to the side to talk to "There are some things that I was unable to say because we were pressed for time so I will make this breaf ... You two are going to have the most important roles in this, once the battle is over you must return to Earth, you will understand why when you arrive, also I know you are confused of why there are two Crimson Roses Ms Santiago" Lucy was about to ask how he knew but he held his hoof up to stop her "it doesn't matter, the reason is that your Rose Lucy is not of this universe but has become part of it as you have, you see when the two princesses destroyed this universe's shadow scythe they destroyed a vital tool needed to stop them, the Rose that Princesses Sparkle has is the one that was part of the Shadow scythe so it will only slow her to access the powers that the scythe provided but they will only be as powerful as her magic" Twilight thought this over as he continued "You were already chosen in your universe when you were young and when the Vorsoth implanted you with the Witch the Rose hid within you untill you were able you were able to draw out its powers and separate yourself from your sister. The Rose has other ability's other then controlling shadows as you both will learn in time, but now you must go, here..
." A odd device appeared out of nowhere in the Holographic Echo's hoof, it looked like a large phone with a large screen, he handed the thing over to Lucy "Her names Lilly, she will tell you what I was unable to and help you anyway she can, take care of her"

"Greetings, It is a pleasure to meet you" a females voice came out of the device "I suggest we board the White Star quickly"
"Yes go, I doubt we will meet again before the end... So good luck" with that the stallion faded away leaving them alone.

"Um.... Twilight?" Lucy said as they passed through the airlock.
"Yes Lucy?"
"No disrespect or anything but your grandad was really confusing" she told the lavender alicorn who nodded with a smile.
"Yes he was Lucy... Yes he was..."

After a quick trek through the temple like hallways of the White star they felt the ship shake a bit as it disconnected from the station, they arrived on the bridge just in time to see the White star move towards the 'Excalibur' and four other ships. Waiting for them was Applejack, Solar flare, Rainbow Dash and Chrysalis who were watching a holographic projection of the capital ships and their fighter support.
Applejack was them enter "Some of The Colonel's friends arrived ta help" she said as they joined them.
"where are the others?" Twilight asked.
"Rarity took them down to the bedrooms so they wouldn't see this" Applejack said "But hard head here wouldn't go"

"Are you kidding Aj? This is too awesome to miss" Rainbow Dash said with a grin "There's no way I'm just going to go and hide"

Applejack looked sadly at her friend and whispered just quit enough for the rainbow maned mare not to hear "So innocent..." Lucy agreed with the mare, only Applejack, Solar Flare and herself had taken a life while the young mare had never even seen somepony die before.

"Do not be fooled Rainbow Dash" Chrysalis told the mare "War is not a game as you saw through the Recordings back their" the changeling queen said "We may have to take many lives in the coming minutes"

*You been in a war your majesty?* the White Star asked.

"I have been in a few battles and watched ponies die around before and even after I became queen of my hive" Chrysalis said "But probably not as many as you have old one."

*Who you calling old?* the White Star said in mock outrage *I may be a couple thousand years old but I spent most of that asleep and I feel as good as I was when I was first put in this White Star*

"So Saki... What can we do to help?" Lucy asked as the White Star.

*Well I can fly myself but I'm going to need someone of weapons as well as sensors* the White star said *Also the 'Excaliburs' trying to call us*

"Put it on please" Twilight said, the holographic screen faded into the face Carter "Colonel, we're ready to assist"

"With all due respect princess but you have no idea how to use that ship" The Colonel reminded them "Let us handle this"

"Colonel Saki can fly herself and all we need to do fire when she tell us, nothing to it!" Lucy said "Besides Colonel, you need all the help you can get"

Carter gave a frustrated sigh "Fine. But I'm assigning Sigma Squadron to provide escort" she said "But if things start to take a turn for the worst I want to to get out of here"

Both Twilight and Lucy nodded "Alright Colonel. White star 3 out" Saki returned the holo-screen to the fleet.

*one more thing...* White Star said slowly *I'm mostly in full control of myself when I'm alone, but in order for you guys to use my weapons one of you will have to be in command and give me orders. It's a failsafe that was put in the White star when we were merged*

"Very well..." Twilight turned to Lucy "I would like you to take command" the decision shocked everyone.

"you intend for one as young as her to lead us into battle?" Chrysalis asked disbelieving.
"Why don't you command Twilight?" Lucy asked quickly "I mean your a princess and all, or even Queen Chrysalis?"

"because while you were in Maria's head I know you picked up allot of her memory's including her air force training" Twilight reasoned "Me and Chrysalis don't have that experience and I have a gut feeling that it should be you"

Lucy thought it over, it was a long shot for sure but what choice did she have "Ok... What do I have to do?" she asked.

*Just sit in the command chair and tell us what to do, princess Twilight I think you should take the weapons controls, I will glow the crystals that you need to touch*

"And what about the rest of us?" Flare asked meaning her and the others.

"perhaps you can man the auxiliary stations" Lilly suggested from her device. Lucy saw she was about to be asked who that was but she just waves the question off "Later"

The others took the advice and everyone took their positions with Lucy sitting down in the command chair and Twilight taking the controls beside her.
Once she was comfortable she asked Saki "Saki bring up the enemy fleet".

It has to be the whole Lucian alliance fleet here, with 60 ships not counting the smaller ones. They were almost through the asteroids.
*the 'Excalibur' again, fleet wide announcement this time*

"'Excalibur' to all ships, wait for my mark, we'll fire all our missiles set to nuclear detonation. Once they do their job you are weapons free, 'Excalibur' out!"

"She sounds nervous" Solar Flare noted "Its understandable considering they outnumber us 6 to 1"

*Then they should bring in a few more guys and make it a fair fight* Saki said confidently.

Lucy wished she had her confidence.

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Once the alliance vessels were through the field they were met with a missile onslaught from the 'Excalibur' and the broadside missile launchers on the omega destroyers, all of which bore very powerful planet cracker class nuclear warheads, the ensuing destruction opened the whole up more but destroyed a fair number of ship's.

But still more ships came up to replace the lost vessels sending all their gliders ahead, the Starfuries and Thunderbolts flew out to meet them with the White star along with them.
A wing of gliders fired at the White Star who's armour took the absorbed the hit and thanks to it's adoptive quality's remembered the damage and adapted so when the next glider scored a hit they did little damage and was blown apart by a shot from the Whites star's primary gun while it's fighter wing was decimated by Sigma squadron's Starfuries, there were similar battles with going on all over the place with the more agile earth fighters proving to out match the Older Lucian alliance gliders.
A few glider wings launched attacks on the blockade but the AA fire from PPG turrets proved to much of them.
The blockade and station were firing on the fast moving Ha'taks now filling the night with fire, the Omegas bringing theirs fores to bare and using their main guns to obliterate ship after ship along with the Warlock and Hyperion who were racking up an impressive score of their own.
But now the Alliance vessels were in range now and started to open fire upon the bigger ships who's interceptors fired and managed to stop a few shots but more still hit and impacted against the shields of the five ships.

By this time the captains of all five ships ordered an advance and kicked their engine to high gear with their guns blazing. The White star joined in and flew right into the grey, ducking and weaving and flipping and turning, her and her fighter escort destroying a few enemy ships and disabling others.
But for every two ships they knocked out of the fight another two took their place.

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"Bring us about... FIRE!" another Ha'tak went boom only for another to take it's place "Damit this is getting us nowhere" another direct hit rocked the White Star.

"Direct hit!" Twilight cried as her hooves flew across the crystals of her controls "Auto repairs are trying to catch up"

"We need another plan here. FIRE!" another two ships down "Any ideas anypony?"

"My I make a suggestion" the device carrying Lilly asked "I have been looking through the White star's database and found a tactic that might work" she said "though it may be a long shot"

Another hit rocked the ship and a wall blew out, a wall of light immediately covers the damage and began repairing it "At this point I'll take anything, go"

"we take to White Star into hyperspace and get the other ships to lure the enemy to a pre determined point, once they do this we form a jump point right in the midst of the enemy fleet"

"and what good will that do other then to get us killed?" Chrysalis asked.

"Due to the amount of energy released when the jump point it opened, any ship caught nearby will be instantly destroyed or severely crippled"

"Sounds like a plan, thou will that work if we opens an outgoing jump point as well?" Lucy asked.
"I believe so"

"Good enough for me, Twilight send Carter the plan, Saki set Corse for the largest cluster of enemy ships and make sure our escort is stays close when we jump"

The White star flew full burn towards the center of the enemy fleet and believing that it was on a suicide run the enemy ships opened fire but too late as the a red jump point opens up right in their midst and as this happened they blew up in a devastating chain reaction that disabled many of the ships around them.

The 'Foxfire' who had also thought of the idea disabled a smaller group of ships and enters hyperspace along side the White Star and Sigma squadron bringing with her both Delta and Omega squadrons with her.

In normal space the 'Excalibur' and the 'Raven' along with her sister ships began to retreat back to the station drawing the Alliance vessels in close. The alliance believing that this was a sign of victory pressed their attack unaware that they were falling right into the trap.

Aboard the bridge of the White Star Lucy waited for the signal in silence along with everyone aboard.

*Colonel Carter says that the fleet is about to reach optimal position*

"Wait.............. NOW!"

Caught unaware the alliance was helpless as two exit jump points a good distance apart from each other appeared amongst them and destroyed or crippled leaving the remaining ships sitting ducks as the White Star and 'Foxfire' surged through their respective jump point and blew apart the remaining ships.

The few surviving ships quickly turned tail and ran, fleeing back through escape hyperspace windows.
The six ships quickly disabled the remaining ships that still were fighting and mopped up the last of the of the enemy fighters before returning to the station to regroup.

The 'Goliath' had taken heavy damage when a few Ha'taks had managed to punch a hole in their shields and score a few direct hits along her hull, some of which was alight. The 'Excalibur' Had not escaped unscathed as it had been hit directly on her sensors and also one of her engines. The other ships had minor damage but apart from that they had emerged from the engagement almost unscathed.

The battle had left the small group of ships with a kill tally of 34 between them and the station and disabling another 26 with the reminder escaping. They had beaten back a massive attack with relatively few losses, now they needed to plan their next move.

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"We lost 12 fighters" Carter said sadly. They had gathered in the 'Excalibur's' T.P.C to discuss the results of the battle "And our sensors were damaged so we can't risk jumping untill they're fixed"

"One of my ships was severely damaged in the attack and will need much repairs" Teal'c said in agreement "Perhaps this Starswirl will have the supply's necessary for repairs on our ships"

"He may alow that" Twilight said "But we must leave as soon as possible" she explained.
"Starswirl said they we must head to Earth quickly" Lucy clarified.

"Well I'm sorry but the 'Excalibur' Will not be able to leave until repairs are complete" Carter told them sadly "And your own ship took a few hits during the fight"

"Saki said that by the time we get back aboard the White Star will be almost fully repaired" Twilight said "I'm still amazed by how fast that ship heals"
"And the 'Foxfire' was barely touched so we could accompany the Princesa and Ms Santiago on their journey to Earth" Colonel Naomi told the other Colonel "Thou I would like to take a few of your fighters with us just in case we run into trouble"

With a reluctant sigh the Colonel agreed "Granted, if what that Stallion said is correct then we need to get this key and Lock if we are to stop a massive invasion of our universe" She turned to her old friend"Teal'c could you and your ships stay with us to keep an eye on the disabled ships untill reinforcements arrive?"
"Indeed Colonel" the jaffa replied with a smile and a bow "Maybe we can learn of the locations of the rest of the ships that were hidden"

"That would be a blessing" Carter said before she returned her attention to Twilight, Lucy and her fellow Colonel "Your three had better get going before we get anymore surprises. Colonel I'm giving you half of Omega Squadron, go as soon as their aboard"
The short meeting broke up quickly as each of them went to do each of their appointed tasks"

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Three weeks earlier, Earth...

Celestia studied the artifact before her, Lucy Santiago had left a day ago taking with her Applejack and her student with her, Maria had asked for Applejack to accompany Lucy because she had wanted to have somepony she knew to watch over the wolfgirl. Celestia had agreed thinking that the young Apple could use a change from the infected filled streets of earth, the princess had also sent her student along to both get her to learn about the new human warship and to het her out of her mane.

Once again the artifact was singing to her, it had disturbed her at first when they had brought it back from the lab they had found it in, it's song that only she could hear and after a while she had found the song almost soothing and then... Slowly at first, she had began to listen to it.

Celestia heard the door open and her sister Luna to enter, the night princess looked upon her sister with worry. "Sister the 'Deadlus' is waiting to return us to Equestria". "We cannot leave yet Luna" Celestia told her sister without looking back "I have finaly figured out this relic".

"Sister the safety of our subjects is more important then that silly lump of stone!" Luna snapped at Celesita, who spun around with fury in her eyes "Do not call it a lump of rock!" she shouted making the younger sister cringe in fear "The Artifact has shown me many things Luna and I no longer care for the ponies of Equestria!" Celestia said menacingly.

"C-Celestia.... What are you saying?" Luna asked as she backed up as her sister advanced upon her, a strange dark glow.
"I am no longer the weakling Celestia..." as she said this black flames engulfed Luna's sister and when they subsided Luna nearly screamed.
Celestia now wore similar armour that Luna had worn when she was Nightmare Moon, but it was gold, Celestia's mane had turned from its normal rainbow colour into a blazing red and gold that seemed ablaze with black fire.

"I am NIGHTMARE SUN!" the dark goddess declared to her now cowering sister "An I live only to serve my dark masters now!" she grinned evilly at Luna "And soon all in this fort shall serve me and the Vorsoth!"