Unfamiliar Grounds

by Probably Terrible

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Sad, Adventure
Length: 7066

A human girl living before the apocalypse is sent to Equestria, and tears the fabric of space and time, causing trouble and chaos for it's inhabitants.

A human girl causes a rip in space and time, and in doing so, is sent to the land of Equestria, where she stirs up trouble and chaos for them all.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-09-24 22:41:16 UTC

Equestria

I woke up, my head throbbing. The world around me was a red-tinged swirl of confusion. Dots danced across my vision. I tried to move my head, but a stabbing pain hit me, stopping me from trying. As my I began to regain my consciousness, as it did so I realized my throat, which burnt like fire. I could hardly remember what had happened, who I am, where I am, and what happened to get myself in such a mess. Even my own name was a mystery. I tried to move my legs, but all it did was send me into unconsciousness again.

As I began to wake up, my throbbing head was somewhat less intense, I sensed now I had a serious wound on my side, and that perhaps my leg was broken. The dots, at least, were gone. I shifted my head slightly to the left, I appeared to be on a steep cliff made out of a stormy gray stone. As my hearing began to come back, I heard rushing water. I must be near a waterfall. I decided to see what damage had been done. I began to stretch one leg. Hmm, something wasn't right. I turned my head to look at my arm. Oh my god. There was a fine coating of dark blue/gray hairs covering my arm. Wait, my hands! I don't have hands! I looked at my "Arm" again. This time, I noticed I had a hoof for a hand. "A hoof!? I HAVE HOOVES!" I cried as I came to the realization.

"Okay, time to stand up." I told myself. I shifted both legs at the same time, now on my hind legs, I started to shift the front ones forward a little bit. Eventually, after a bit of struggling, I stood up shakily. I noticed something as I turned to look at my sides. I did not actually have a wound in my side, but what I had felt hurting, were very new and odd. I seemed to have wings there! "Wings?!" I cried. My day had been getting weirder and weirder. I concentrated on being able to lift them, this, unfortunately was easier said than done. Finally, something in my brain clicked, and hesitantly, both wings lifted and spread at my side. I decided practice makes perfect and practiced lifting and spreading my wings for a while. Since I was preoccupied, I hadn't realized my burning dry throat and terrible hunger. I tenderly took a step forward, carefully testing out balance. I put the other hoof forward too. After much struggle, I was able to get to the stream leading to the waterfall, which embarrassingly enough, was only a few feet away. Of course, not every human gone...What was the creature? Ah, not every human gone pegasus gets all the blessings of walking and control over their wings all at once, now do they? I bent my front legs, dipping forward to lap up the water. It was surprisingly clean, cool, and crisp. I drank as much as I could hold, my huge thirst now satisfied. Shakily walking, I decided to examine the spot I was in. Around me, were a few splatters of dry blood, which I examined my coat and decided to go back to the stream and wash off the blood caked on it. I walked on over there, I seemed to be getting the hang of the walking thing. I stepped into the stream, the water was cold, but felt nice on my dirty, blood-caked, and scratched up hooves. I cleansed my hooves, revealing the cut skin. I got out of the water, it felt more freezing than cold now, and I went off into a nearby forest clearing.

I looked up at the tree, it was the only tree with any food, I'm not sure why there was a random apple tree, but who am I to complain at a time like this? I stretched out my wings, I guess it's time to try and fly. I spread my wings, and flapped them as hard as I could. "I don't think that's gonna work." I muttered. This time, I pushed my fears of breaking something and leaped up into the air, stretching my wings, and beating them ferociously against my sides. Air whooshed around me and I stayed in the air, rising a bit, then crashing to the ground. "Ow!" I cried. It hurt to land on the ground. As well as hurting my pride. I leaped up into the air once again. This time, I was able to beat my wings hard enough and steer myself over to the tree. I draped my self over it. So much for a pride booster.

Out of the Dark

I walked forward, trying not to stumble over my own hooves. "These fillies are very excited to show me to their friends." I thought as Scootaloo dragged me forward again. "Come on!" Said Sweetie Belle as they ran down a grassy slope leading to a path connecting to a small village. "Come on, Starflight! We're almost at Ponyville!" Said Scootaloo. Applebloom was too busy leading to have said anything. "So, there's a town here? You mean this is a civilised place?" I said, in awe that there was a civilisation of ponies here, rather than what I hoped. I had hoped there might be humans I can turn to and have help me out. I do not, it seems, have the best of luck. As we reached te enterance to the town, I noticed a bouncy pink-maned pony. "Hiya Pikie Pie!" said Applebloom once we reached the enterance. "Hi Applebloom! Hi Scootaloo! Hi Sweetie Belle! Hi Stranger!" Said this 'Pinkie Pie' pony. "Wait, a stranger?! I know just aout EVERYPONY in these parts! Are you new?" She asked. Boy, did this pony talk."My name's Starflight." I said, ready to move on and see somepny else. "Hiya Starflight! Are you gonna live here? Please? Oh Please! I love meeting new ponies!" Pinkie Pie said. I looked around at the town behind her. It seemed like a nice town, but I might want to see other places first. " Maybe." I said. "I'm afraid I might have to go soon, but first, is there anypony who can help me learn to fly?" I said. I hope she or he can teach me fast. I need to get outta here and find someone to help me get home. " Do you want to meet Rainbow Dash?" Asked Pinkie Pie. "Okay, will she teach me to fly?"I asked. "Of course, silly filly!" Pinkie said. So we trotted down a path, and eventually reached a cloud with a rainbow Pegasus sleeping on it."Rainbow Dash! I want to show you something!" Pinkie said. "Oh, hey Pinkie." Rainbow said, as she shook off the webs of sleep.

         After a few long hours of training this pegasus had not only trained me how to fly, but answered most of my questions about Equestria. All I need to do now is plot my escape, before I am taken to meet even more ponies! Later that night, as soon as they were all asleep, I put my shaky flight skills to the test. I left the town, trying to make my flight as silent as possible. I flew over the Everfree forest, which was somewhere Rainbow told me I would pass. My destination was a town that was like their capital city. I was heading to Canterlot.

Canterlot

I had been flying for quite a while when I reached a majestic city with an enchanting palace. I alighted, stumbling along the ground. Since my flying was terrible, I likely contributed to my ladning skills. I could worry about this later though. Quickly hurrying through the empty streets, I eventually arrived at the palace's steps. "Think, Think Think!" I murmured. I had forgotten the name of the Princess. "Ah, was it Celestial? Wait, Celestia! That's it! Her sister was.. Luna? Yes, that's it." I murmured. "Lovely, this is driving me to insanity! I'm talking to myself!" I thought. I sat for a moment, but then, A dark blue-ish pony was using a telescope and looking at the moon. "This must be Luna." I thought. Luna turned and noticed me. "What is thou doing at this time of the night?" Luna asked. "I-I needed to speak with you and Celestia" I stammered, my heart fluttering. "For what? Is there something wrong?" she asked. She seemed friendly enough. "Yes, but I would prefer we not discuss it in public." I said, beginning to regain some of the lost confidence I had. "Okay, come into the castle, we will speak of the troubles." Luna said, opening the two huge main doors. I walked in carefully and quietly. "Luna, have you brought in a guest? At this time of night?" Said a white alicorn, who had been writing something in a nearby room. "Yes, sister, she has something important she must discuss with us." Luna said, guiding me with a gentle hoof into the room. "Shouldn't you have been asleep at this time as well?" Luna said. "Yes, but you heard the-" She stopped short when she noticed what I looked like. "You. You are the one from the prophecy." Celestia said, her tone suddenly becoming a tad colder. "You are the one destined to bring Equestria down into ruins, you came from the alter-universe. You, you had the ability to break the fabrics of space and time. I have half a mind to take you and lock you away now, but I might want to hear what you have to say first." Celestia said, her tone growing icier.

After I told her all I went through, she nodded a few times. "Guards!" She called. "This is the pony who will make Equestria fall in ruins, you must not let her escape, take her to the dungeons!" She said. Luna looked at me with look at said "I'm sorry, but it is meant to be." Two guards came forward, each one grabbing my arm and pulling me away. I beat my wings furiously, eventually adjusting myself so feathers hit them both in the eyes and they were blinded momentarily. They reached their hooves to wipe it off, but let me go to do so. "See ya around, ladies!" I called to anger them further. What I didn't know was that Celestia was prepared. Four pegasus guards took off after me, closing in  on me as I went further from the castle. Then Celestia herself burst out from the castle doors and took off after me as well.

Escape

After I flew as hard as I could, my wings started to tire out. "I must keep going." I murmured as I began to slow. Two guards began to come closer coming ext to me and grabbing my front legs. They pulled me back where the other two guards walked near them. Celestia nodded to the guards and mouthed "high-security" The guards flew me into the castle and down a set of stairs. The walls had splotches of blood scattered about and a pony skeleton in one corner. I was put into a double-barred cell and the door was triple locked. "Cursed pegasus wings. Why couldn't I be a unicorn?" I wondered, because in such a case it might help. I paced for a while, trying to figure out how to get out. I noticed a small cell window, the bars were rusty as well. "Nevermind. I like being a pegasus." I muttered as I grinned wickedly. I flew up ramming my shoulder against it a few times. Boy, was I glad those guards had gone. My shoulder was oozing a small amount of blood by the time I had created a large enough hole to squeeze through.

I flew out of the hole and I was headed to somewhere far from Canterlot. Eventually after an hour or so, I found a mountain with a dark cave in it. "Perfect." I murmured. I flew inside the cave, and I watched the sun, it was barely rising. Celestia was standing outside, angrily plotting against me. I sat down and looked at the rising sun. It was very pretty but it's image was ruined as a large pony, flew in front of her view. It was an alicorn. "Oh no. I knew I couldn't hide long, but seriously?" She said. She turned and fled into the dark shadows of the cave. It split into three sections in the back. She chose one and there was a stone stairway leading down.

Meanwhile, Celestia thought over the prophecy once more."It did say there was a way to stop her but the Elements are useless against her." She murmured. "In fact, she might ally with them." Celestia said,hardly able to bear the thought of the Elements of Harmony allying with such a being capable of chaos and destruction. "Not only that, but she will meet a friend along the way, one capable of the same things." She said. Eventually, she alighted at the cave. She lit her horn and went through the dark cave. She noticed hoofprints going towards a tunnel. So she took them. Now, Starflight was a clever pony, so she erased her steps, and created false ones to throw Celestia off, then she went to go explore the stairs.

I climbed up the stairs, making sure not to trip over the uneven stones. I finally reached the top and there was a wooden door with a metal loop meant for knocking. I knocked on the door. To my surprise, a creamy white unicorn stallion with a flame colored mane opened the door. "Hello? Who are you?" He asked in a kind but cautious tone. "I'm Starflight, I'm trying to hide from your crazy Princess." I said, trying to make my approach friendly. "Oh really?" He said, as he chuckled at my awkward attempts at being friendly. "I'm Inferno, nice to meet you, Starflight." He said. "But, I'm seriously, I am hiding from that bananas alicorn you call a Princess." I said. "Oh, you are?" He said. "Come in, I can hide you there." He said, urgently rushing me in. I heard some loud hoofsteps as somepony entered the cave. He led me down another flight of stairs into a room with another door. He ushered me in and came inside as well. Using his magic to take a key from a shelf, he locked the door shut behind him.

Flashes

Inferno and I pressed the sides of our heads against the wall, waiting to see if Celestia was gone. After a while, she finally stamped her hoof and took off. I sighed relief and slunk down, exhausted from running and hiding. "You need a place to rest?" Inferno said, as he watched me slip into the talons of sleep. I nodded and stood up, careful not to fully wake myself up in order to sleep well then. He led me up the stairs into the main chamber again then opened up another door leading to a small room with a candle and a bed. I flopped down in it, relishing the fact I might sleep for the first time in a few days. "Thanks." I murmured as I fell asleep.

As I feared, my dreams were not pleasant. I was standing in a dark room, lit with moonlight. I was, in this dream, human. I remember now what I looked like. A tall man cloaked in black walked towards me, holding a sphere of white. "If you drop this," He began. "You could have a better life, in a new land, full of kind beings, willing to take you in." He said. This was an offer I couldn't refuse. I stupidly accepted, taking the orb from his hand. I smashed the orb on the floor, engulfing the room in white swirls and whooshes of blue fire, lightning crackled and I was whisked into an open portal-like thing that was an eerie black with red slashes of light piercing the darkness.

I leaped awake, my heart pounding in my chest. I was unable to register any thoughts of what had happened to me then, or even begin to process what I had been through. I dropped onto the floor, breaking down in tears. Inferno burst into the room, his blue eyes full of worry. "What's wrong?" He said as I sobbed uncontrollably. "I-I don't know." I choked out. I shakily stood up, my mane soaked with the tears. "I had a... nightmare. About my past." I said. "What happened?" He said as he sat down next to me on the bed. "I was in this room, and this man, I mean a human. I was one too. He came up to me, promising me a better life, and handing me something to fix it all." I said. "I accepted it, and I came here, but I got something completely different. I was taken to a world where I am chased and suspected of being a pony destined to bring Equestria into ruins." I said, finishing my story of my despair so far. Inferno looked at me, putting a hoof on my shoulder. "It's okay. I know what it's like." He said. "How would you know?" I said rubbing my reddened eyes. "Did you hear of the missing boy?" He said to me looking straight into my eyes. "Yes, it was all over the news." I said. "That was me." He said. "It was... you?" I said, bewildered. "Celestia came after me too. She knew my past and that I was destined to help you." He said. "I hid here and you coincidentally came here too, looking for safety." He said, his eyes brimming with tears now.

"If we go back to where I woke up, we might discover more about our pasts." I said, after we had recovered from our sudden flashbacks. Inferno looked at me and nodded slightly. "I think we should." He said. "I might want to go where I woke too." He said. "Alright. We will." I promised, although now more nervous because I had an even better chance of being caught. "Don't worry, I got this." He said confidently. I looked at him suspiciously. "Starflight? I hope you don't mind being painted on." He said. I gulped.

After he led me into a small room filled with paints and brushes, as well as numerous other tools I had no name for, he painted me various shades of green and browns so I could camouflage. I never knew how talented he was at painting. I wonder how he adapted his talent to this world. I sat there and let it dry. I didn't want to make suspicious smears everywhere. After a while, I rubbed the paint gently. Luckily, it was finally dry. "You must go now, I will tag behind so I can come out when you give the Ok." He said. I trotted out of the room, my heart fluttering in my chest. I walked down the stairs, prepared for trouble already. I picked the correct path and went outside into the main cave. Inferno trotted closely behind, his cream-colored hooves making a clip-clop noise that reverberated through the cavern. I looked out into the sea of forest that was barely illuminated. The sunset was a beautiful mixture of yellows, oranges, and a bit of purple sky. A few stars twinkled in the darkest part of the twilight sky. I sighed, it was the most beautiful thing I had seen in a long long time.

I took off into the night sky, the cool breeze ruffling my mane and calming my frazzled nerves. After flying through the darkening sky, eventually I reached the very place I had been left at. The grass where I was laying was still stained with blood splotches from my various wounds.Upon looking closer, I noticed it had also been scorched in areas around it. I circled the area, keeping low and making sure Celestia was not there. I surveyed the are once more, then I gave the signal, a wave of my hoof once forward and once back, that it was alright to come investigate. Inferno poked his head out of the bush he was in and looked around in case I wasn't attentive enough to my surroundings. He nodded and came out into the open. I stood on the edge of the cliff, the cool breezes ruffling my mane and feathery wings. "So, this is it. We are a step closer to finding our pasts." Inferno said, as he looked around, glancing at the surrounding areas. I walked over to the spot where I had woken up. Upon closer inspection, I noticed an object pushed forcefully into the ground, which explained why I was wounded on the side I was lying on. It was sharp and jagged. Inferno trotted over to me as he noticed my shocked expression as I pulled it out of the dirt.

Celestia looked out into the setting sun, preparing herself for the night's important flight. "I'll stop her, I can help Equestria and save us from the monster threatening to destroy us."She murmured as she planned. eventually the sun disappeared over the horizon, leaving the sky a pretty shade of purple, spotted with bright stars. She looked out, her eyes focusing on a specific direction. She then took off, speeding towards it, her wings carving the air as she sliced her way through the darkening sky, nearing in the very cliff Starflight and Inferno were investigating.

I looked out over the cliff. My eyes widened as I saw a dark shape swiftly heading towards us, sharply turning upwards. Celestia rose into the air, now clearly visible to both of us. She landed on the ground in front of me, shaking it with the force of the landing. "Fancy seeing you here, I was out for a flight as well, Starflight!" She said with an eerie chuckle. I looked at her. Right in the eyes. "It's a lovely night, anypony might fancy a nice evening flight I suppose." I said as I backed up, ready to fly away. "I knew you would be here. I heard every second of your plan. You might not know, but I have supreme powers enabling me to do so." Celestia said. "Oh, and I saw your little boyfriend painting you with his little filly hoofpaints sets. How amusing!" She chuckled. I turned a light shade of red. "He's not m--" I started but was cut off as Celestia stopped me.

Running

I sidestepped Celestia, making sure she couldn't get me. I spread my wings and sidestepped again, but when I sidestepped, it was the very edge of the cliff. My wings buckled at my sides, not helping slow me down. At a few feet before I hit the ground they opened up. I hit the ground, the wings not helping as much as I hoped. My shoulder dug hard in the dirt, bringing tears to my eyes as I heard a popping noise. I needed to get out of here. Inferno had escaped while I was distracting her. I hoped I would meet up with him by dawn. I struggled to my hooves, ignoring the searing pain in my injured shoulder. I galloped away, trying to keep my shoulder from being used to much. I decided flight might be a little faster, and less hard on my shoulder. I picked up speed, trying to reach Ponyville, perhaps it was safer there. After a bit of flying, I noticed a creamy white unicorn with a flame-color mane. "Inferno!" I said as I winced in pain as my leg hit a rock of some sort, dislodging my shoulder further.

After we reunited, we finished the rest of the way to Ponyville. We sat down in the dirt path near the town's entrance, panting and exhausted from our night of fleeing and running. Soon, A pink bouncy pony came bouncing down the road. I racked my brain, looking for her name. I had most certainly seen her before. I don't think I am the best with names. "Pinkie Pie?" I asked as I remembered suddenly. "Starflight! We've been looking all over for you! I'm super duper happy to see you!" Pinkie said as she bounded over and hugged me. I awkwardly wrapped a hoof around her in some sort of hug. She broke off and went over to Inferno. "Is this your friend? He looks nice!" She said as she looked at him and he backed up a bit. I nodded and Pinkie vigorously shook his hoof. I laughed. Inferno shot me some kind of look. "Come on guys! Come meet some of my awesome friends!" Said Pinkies as she bounced her way over to a cute little building. She took both of us inside, and we were greeted by the sight of five other ponies. All of them stopped chatting and politely asked: "Who are you?" I looked at Pinkie who somehow signaled me to introduce myself. "I'm Starflight." I said. Rainbow Dash, the pegasus who taught me to fly, suddenly realized who I was. "Hey... You're Starflight aren't you?" She asked as she looked at my mane and wings.

After I had introduced myself to everypony concerned, I sat down to tell my story of despair and danger. The ponies listened, nodding slightly, occasionally their eyes widened at a particular event."This all happened to you?" Asked a purple unicorn who I learned was named Twilight Sparkle. "Yes... Unfortunately." I said. "So, ah heard Applebloom met ya, she said you were a very nice mare." A pony named Applejack said. "She did, she brought me here." I said, as I prepared for more questions. "Darling, you absolutely MUST come to Carousel Boutique! You have a fashion emergency!" Said a unicorn named Rarity said, as she eyed my mane. "That's not a question, but maybe later, when it's dark. I can't risk going and being seen." I said, as I glanced at the door. "Oh, okay." Said Rarity, a little crestfallen. "Uh... Did you really become a pony from a-a human?" Asked a shy pegasus who I learned was Fluttershy. "Yes, I was hurt badly when I did so. I come from a broken world." I said, although I still hadn't learned much about it quite yet. I didn't want anymore of those terrible dreams. I know I can't fight them though. We chatted for a bit, then Pinkie Pie offered us a room for the night. Inferno and I discussed it, then decided we would appreciate it.

The night's dreams were more terrible then the first of them. I was human again, I noticed this time I was wearing a dark blue hoodie, most likely the contribution to my coat color. I was sitting alone in a darkened room, the wall was damaged and the paint was chipping off. Small holes that were about the size of bullet holes pierced through the side walls.A moment later, I turned to see a rusted metal door opening, squeaking on it's hinges. The cloaked figure from last time entered, this time a pair of glowing, almost-human eyes peered at me through the shadows. I looked at the person, and I leaped back, afraid of what might happen. The figure stepped forward, scaring me more. I turned around, ramming my shoulder at the wall. It was luckily Drywall, so I sustained no injury from my stupidity. I would have rammed even if not, trying to escape.

The Revolution Begins

I never thought they would help me like this. The lavender unicorn, Twilight Sparkle, has decided against her teacher, and wants to help Inferno and I start a revolution against her! A revolution, Twilight had said, would stop Celestia, and save us from her, she had agreed that something was up and Celestia wasn't the same anymore.

I looked around at the room, everypony had spent the night, because it had began to rain as we had discussed our plans. I couldn't sleep, but I knew I should, tommorow morning was our first recruitment for a better Equestria. So I laid down, curled in the corner, prepared for terrible dreams.

I was standing in the center of the room I was in last time. I walked over to the room, and twisted the doorknob. I stepped into the hallways, prepared for something to come shooting straight at me. I cautiously advanced through the halls, reaching a door, leading to the outside. The sky was a red-orange color, and mostly covered by a sickening, thick, black smoke. I coughed and stepped outside, the bushes near the house were withered, with hardly any green. I walked down the steps, apparently walking somewhere. I ducked my head, trying to make sure I had no eye contact with the empty streets. I went forward, running across the street. A moment later, I heard aloud noise, then a scream. A moment later, I woke up.

Gasping, I stood up, sweat on my forehead, my legs shaking terribly. I turned around as I heard somepony mutter something. Pinkie Pie was waking up, ready to start her day.

"Oh, good morning, Pinkie Pie." I said as the pink-maned pony stood up.

"Morning Starflight! How are ya?" Pinkie Pie asked, now almost fully awake.

"Oh, I'm uh, fine, I had just a bad dream." I said, not completely lying, not completely truthful.

"Oh, well breakfast will make everything better!" Pinkie Pie said, going to go shake everypony awake.

"Uuuunnhh, good morning." Groaned Inferno, who had clearly had a terrible dream. His hair was in a ruffled, spiky and messy state, and his knees were scratched up from tossing and turning on the wooden floors.

"You okay Princess?" I asked, looking at him.

"Yes. I had a bad dream. Don't call me Princess." He said with a kind of Don't-mess-with-me-I-just-woke-up kind of look.

"Okay let's go downstairs." I suggested, as everypony else headed downstairs. I trotted down the steps, into a dining room with extra tables and chairs set up. Pinkie Pie happily bounced over to the table, carrying plates of pancakes with delicious syrup. I grinned. "Thanks Pinkie, especially thanks for letting us all stay here." I said, grateful for the kindness of the bouncy earth pony.

"No problem!" Pinkie Pie said, grinning.

"Okay girls, we need some plans on how to do some recruiting." Twilight Sparkle said, laying out a bunch of papers and a quill. "I think we might want to design a few flyers, put them up around key areas in Ponyville, and perhaps have Starflight fly some to the next city over.

"Ah think it sounds like a great plan, sugarcube, ah'll make sure ah get the Apple family to join our cause." Said Applejack.

"I can try to get the Wonderbolts!" suggested Rainbow Dash.

"I can get some of the most fabulous and fashionable ponies in town!" Suggested Rarity.

"Alright guys, I think we already have a decent group of rebels if these people join us." I said, glad that these kind ponies would do something this big and life-changing to help me. they hardly even knew Inferno and I, yet they do this. Friendship is truly Magic.

Recruitment

I  stood in a booth, Inferno next to me, both of us focused on the crowd. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and a Mailmare who had eyes focusing on two different directions had signed up for the rebels. We had said the stand was a lemonade stand to avoid suspicion, but when I explained it to people, they all said yes, so far only four had signed up. A yellow pegasus mare with bright blue hair soon showed up, and signed up as well. "Inferno, so far so good, great disguise plan actually." I said, nudging the flame-haired unicorn stallion. "Hmm, four days here and we're already trying to take over with some of the most powerful ponies in Equestria, the mane six." I thought, marveling at the fact. I sighed and looked into the crowd.

By night, we had in all 10 members, 18 counting us. "It's coming together nicely, but we'll need more, the royal guards are exceptionally powerful." Twilight said, as we gathered around Pinkie Pie's table, the new members standing by.

"We are strong already, but more the merrier." I agreed, wanting to be as powerful as we could.

"Tomorrow, I need Derpy to set up a muffin stand and recruit there, she could offer muffins to those who do. We will hold another meeting tonight." Twilight said, as she looked at the happy mailmare who had been looking over my shoulder.

"Okay Twilight! I'll do that!" Confirmed Derpy happily.

A while later, Inferno and I were walking to the stand, the cool morning winds blowing our manes back. Inferno turned to me, about to say something, but he stopped, and continued walking.

"I-I don't feel right doing this, Starflight." He said, looking over at me.

"What do you mean? We could be saving Equestria from a slowly insanity driven Princess, what's wrong about this?!" I asked, whipping around to him.

"I just don't know, I just feel something's goi-" He said, interrupted as a huge white shape rammed into him at full speed.

"Inferno!" I gasped, as I realized just who it was. "Celestia!" I roared, leaping up. "Get off of him!" I demanded, flying into the air, and hitting her at full speed. She got up, looked at me, her eyes a bright fiery red.

"Starflight, you escaped me. TIME FOR YOU TO PAY!" She bellowed, smashing her hooves against the ground, sending it up in jagged peaks.

"Stop right there, Celestia!" Shouted Twilight, standing between us.

"Twilight! How could you do this to me! Betraying your own teacher, and trying to overthrow her!" Celestia roared, charging for her.

A moment later, two stallions, Noteworthy and Bic Macintosh, charged at her, in armor that was no doubt designed by Rarity. Twilight lit up her magic, preparing to blast Celestia. A moment before, Inferno galloped to her, lighting his horn too. A huge bright red flash illuminated most of the town, causing many stunned ponies to cover their eyes. The smoke and dust cleared, and it appeared that Celestia had been rammed so hard into the clock tower, that she had gone through it, and was nowhere to be found. I ran over to Twilight and Inferno, both unicorns unconscious and bruised. It must have sent them flying backwards, judging by their bruises. Inferno opened one eye slightly, and mumbled something, a bit of blood, trickling from his mouth.

"Inferno?" I said, looking at the injured unicorn.

"He'll be okay, let's get him to Sugarcube corner." Twilight said, brushing off some dust and shakily standing up, I walked over to her letting her lean on me. The two Rebel Guards, Big Mac and Noteworthy, picked up inferno, and carried him to Sugarcube Corner. Lyra Heartstrings, Derpy Hooves, and Thunderlane's wounds were being tended to by Nurse Redheart, who had agreed to join and help take care of the injured or ill ponies. The Rebel Guards set Inferno down gently, and nudged Twilight inside to be tended to as well. Nurse Redheart gasped, nodded and rushed over to.

"Was there another attack?" I asked Big Mac, looking at the injured ponies.

"Eeyup, there were some guards, who figured out who they were, and what they were doing. They tried to get answers out of them." He responded. I guess Big Mac can talk plenty when he needs to.

Rebels

I stood at the opening of a cave we had found to use as a rebel hideout. It was to obvious if we had used place where we lived, so we had to venture deep into the Everfree Forest. Inferno trotted up for me, a slight limp in his step. His leg had been injured by the magic blast, and he was still limping. "Good Morning, Inferno." I said, looking at him

"Morning. How are you?" He asked me, in a tone of voice that said there was something on his mind.

"I'm fine, Is something wrong?" I asked, watching his face for expressions, he remained the same expression, and gazed out into the fog-wrapped forest.

"No, I'm just out here to clear my thoughts. Being outside has always helped my thoughts." He responded, inhaling deeply.

I regarded him carefully, wondering what was really on his mind.

"Me too, now that I'm somewhere where we actually have fresh air, I guess it is beneficial." I said, acknowledging the stuffy, polluted air back in the other world. I trotted forward, flying up onto a low stump of a fallen tree. "I am Starflight! Ruler of Equestria!" I said, joking around. Inferno chuckled at me, some of the brightness restored to his eyes. It had been a long time since we had even chuckled, and I was glad we could finally loosen up, even if only for just a few moments. My wings were sore and stiff still, and I stretched them out and glided down, leading Inferno back into the cave. It was cramped and there was barely enough room. Twilight greeted us, and led us to a less cramped room. It was meant for the leaders of the project, and only Twilight, Inferno, and I were allowed inside, occasionally for a meeting the others of the six came in. I sat in the center of the room, beginning to be lost in thought. We needed strategy, and I needed a map.

"Twilight?" I called, suddenly having an idea.

Twilight entered the room. "Yes, Starflight?" She said, coming into the room. She tapped her hoof, waiting as my idea quickly boiled and hatched into a plan. A simple one, but essential.

"I need someone who is less well known with the rebels, maybe two. I need quills, maps and pushpins," I explained. "It should help me plan the next mission." I said, as Twilight nodded and turned around. She returned with a pony who had joined as we left, Roseluck. "I need you, Roseluck, to get quills, a map, and some pins. If you could do that, I would be rather glad. Please come back quickly and DON'T draw attention." I warned.

"Okay ma'am I'll be back soon." Roseluck replied, as she trotted out of the cave, a small pouch of bits in her mouth.

"We got company!" Roseluck yelled, as she charged back into the cave.

"What do you mean, we have company?!" I said, fear rising in my throat.

"Royal guards! And a whole lot of em'!" Roseluck shouted, as she dropped the assorted items on the ground.

"Oh crap!" I shouted, as we hadn't been well prepared for this. "Big Mac, Caramel, Noteworthy! Get on your suits of armor, we're going into battle!" I said, kicking into battle mode in a few seconds. I galloped into my room, knocking ponies over who were running about, getting to their stations. I grabbed a small knife from my nightstand. I had found it in the Everfree forest as we searched for a location. I galloped out into the open, the three of our guards near me, armed with assorted weaponry we had managed to collect. I stood there, listening for wing-beats and hoofsteps. I soon heard a loud noise, that sounded like the pounding of hooves, mixed in with the wingbeats of numerous ponies. "Alright ladies and gentlecolts, we got company!" I shouted, as they appeared in site. Celestia was leading both groups, and she halted them in front of us.

"Well, fancy seeing you here, Starflight." She said, staring at me. "You know why I'm here. Surrender, and I'll leave your precious rebels alone." Celestia said, as she gestured to the ponies standing behind me.

"Never." I said, stepping forward, my eyes narrowed.

"Oh, you want to play this game?" She said, as she too, stepped forward.

"Celestia, it's time to end this, once and for all." I said, rising into the air.

"Hah! Silly pony, you think you can stop me?" She said, laughing evilly.

"You won't stop her, Celestia!" Twilight said, standing near me.

"Never! For Starflight!" The others cried, surging forward to collide with the guards. Twilight Sparkle and I were left to battle Celestia.

Discovery

So I was finally able to get an apple. I think I may need a tad bit of flight practice, but I suppose this will do for now. Suddenly, I heard rustling leaves and a twig snap as hoofsteps went through a bit of the thick undergrowth. "I told ya Scootaloo! We aren't gonna get our cutie marks huntin' through forests!" Said a voice with an accent of some kind. "Well, Applebloom, we should always check!" Said another one. "Stop fighting guys! I think I see someone!" Said a third. A few heartbeats later three young looking ponies appeared. One was an orange pegasus with a purple-ish mane, the other was a white unicorn with a purple and pink mane, and the third was a yellowish normal pony with red hair and a pink bow. "Howdy there, pony! Ah don't recall ah've seen ya round' here. Are ya new?" Said the yellow one. She must be the one with the accent. "Hey! I'm Scootaloo!" Said the orange one. "I'm Sweetie Belle!" Said the unicorn. "Oh, and ah'm Applebloom! Pleased to meet ya!" She said violently shaking my hoof. "Don't ya have a cutie mark?" Asked Applebloom as she looked at my flank. "A cutie what now?" I said, for I did not know what a 'cutie mark' is. "Y'know, a mark of your special talent?" she said. "I don't know what a cutie mark is." I said. "What do you mean, you don't know what a cutie mark is?" Asked Scootaloo. "Anyway, what's your name?" Asked Sweetie Belle, who obviously wanted a turn to speak. "Uh... Uh.... My name is... Uh.... Starflight" she said. "Oh, okay! Nice to meet ya Starflight!" Applebloom said. "Your blue and green mane is really pretty!" Said Sweetie Belle. "Okay Sweetie Belle, we didn't need to know the colors of her mane!" Said Scootaloo. "I needed to know." I thought, I hadn't checked yet. "Follow us!" Scootaloo said.