Ultimate Defence of the Realm

by ANTIcarrot

Rating: everyone
Tags: Other, Adventure, Crossover, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Princess Luna
Length: 6132

The Elements of Harmony aren’t the only thing standing between Equestria and the darkness.

The Elements of Harmony aren’t always the only thing standing between Equestria and the darkness. They are simply the preferred option. Princess Luna learns this one day, when she finally summons the courage to ask her sister a question that had been bothering her for months. "But what if Twilight had failed?"

She is shocked that Celestia actually has a Nuclear option - but not nearly as horrified as Twilight and her friends are when they are tricked into triggering it...

Published 2012-02-13 19:14:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-02-18 03:12:29 UTC

The Teaser

Ultimate Defence of the Realm - Teaser
by John Routledge

Based on Friendship is Magic, created by Lauren Faust
And My Little Pony, created by Bonnie Zacherle
Render Unto Hasbro That Which Is Hasbro’s...

“Applejack!”

Twilight screamed as she saw the unconscious head of her friend disappear behind yet another corner. She raced after it, her hooves slipping on the wet stone surface. Her heart hammered in her chest and her breath dragged in her throat. She was exhausted, both physically, mentally, and magically. She had no idea where she was, no idea where she was going, and no idea what was dragging Applejack - and which had picked her friends off one by one.

All she knew was that the Princess had asked them to investigate something unusual in the ruins of the Tiraseum, deep in the Everfree Forest, near the castle ruins where they had defeated Nightmare Moon. She knew from her studies it was part of the old city built near the ancient castle. And that the ground below was filled with tunnels and caverns where the entertainment had been prepared. And that some of the entertainments once practiced here had been so terrible Celestia and Luna both still refused to speak of them.

That and green light. Whatever she was chasing seemed to really like green light. Or it emitted green light.

Or is was made of green light?

Twilight caught sight of her friend one last time before rounding that corner and seeing it was a T-junction. To her right it ended in an alcove. To her left was a short corridor leading to a vast room, illuminated by more of the sickly green light scrolls that she and the others had found occasionally upon the ground. In the dim underground it was bright enough to let her see everything.

Her own ragged breathing echoed off the distant walls. The room truly was vast, with at least fifty yards to the nearest doorway leading out. Twilight had no idea what had taken her friends, but she had seen how quickly it could move. She had been able to follow it as it dragged Applejack away. There was no way it could have gotten that far before she arrived!

“Applejack!” Twilight shouted. “Applejack!”

She looked over her shoulder before edging her way into the room, and towards the glow-scroll. She knew she would see best when it was behind her field of vision. It was the only thing she had left. Her friend couldn’t have simply vanished! Twilight’s reserves were gone but she would still have picked up that flash of magic, even several corridors away. But what had happened?

“Applejack!”

She stood next to the glow-scroll, carefully surveying every inch of wall and floor. Nothing! Then the scroll began to fade, as had all the others. She walked around it one last time, hoping she might spot something new, or catch something that had been hiding in her own shadow. Still nothing!

The darkness was starting to close in all around her. The farthest wall faded away, and the others followed as she circle of what she could still see began to collapse inwards. Twilight tried desperately to cast a light spell, one of the simplest and easiest spells that every unicorn learns, but all that came out of her horn were a few weak sparks.

“Applejack?” Twilight whispered.

And then the light was gone. Twilight held her breath and listened, then snapped her head around when she heard a quiet thump. She spun in that direction.

“Who are you!? What have you done with my friends!?”

The darkness didn’t answer her, and Twilight could see nothing, but she could hear it moving, coming towards her, and trying to circle round to the side. Twilight turned to keep it in front of her. A couple of times it tried to rush her, but she refused to run, even though she wanted to.

Even though she couldn’t see, even though she was surrounded by stone walls, and there was nothing but a maze beyond them, she still really wanted to run, but she held her ground.

It was standing right in front of her. She could hear it breathing.

“Show yourself!”

Twilight got her wish.

Sudden light, sudden blood red light, started to boil and froth and smoke out of something held in twisted black claws just to the left of her muzzle. The face in front of her was a thing of nightmares, with tiny hard eyes and a misshapen skull with horns and it snarled at her and its mouth was blood red with teeth and teeth and more teeth and far too many teeth and Twilight screamed!

Part 1

Ultimate Defence of the Realm - Part 1
by John Routledge

Based on Friendship is Magic, created by Lauren Faust
And My Little Pony, created by Bonnie Zacherle
Render Unto Hasbro That Which Is Hasbro’s...

“Why Twilight?”

“Why did I pick Twilight?”

Celestia smiled at her sister. They were having breakfast together, and were swapping stories and incidents as they often did about things Luna had missed, or things Celestia no longer remembered as clearly as she once did.

“Have I not told you what happened on the day of tryouts when she applied? It was a most impressive display of raw power. Easily the highest output of magic I had seen since...”

“No Tia, not that,” Luna interrupted. Celestia had told Luna that story before. Unfortunately Celestia was rightly proud of her favourite pupil and (in Luna’s opinion) liked to feign memory loss so she could tell it again. “Why did you pick Twilight Sparkle to be the barer of the Element of Magic?”

“Oh that.” Celestia hesitated. “Technically I didn’t. The Elements of Harmony themselves are always the final arbiters of who shall wear them.”

Luna waited.

“And yet the elements just happened to pick your prize pupil, and her friends, who only knew about the elements, and me, because she told them, and who only came to know of me due to her studies, under your tutelage.”

“You have a very suspicious mind,” Celestia observed as she took a sip of tea.

“So did you, a thousand years ago. Unless things have changed a lot more over that time than I imagine, you still do. You can’t rule over a principality the size of Equestria without being able to play the ‘she knows/he knows/she knows’ game very well.”

“I may have given her a nudge in the right direction,” Celestia admitted.

“And?”

“And possibly manipulated things a little behind the scenes.” Celestia took another sip of her tea. “And maybe laid a little ground work.”

“So why Twilight?”

“Several reasons. I trusted her. Though young and inexperienced she was and is one of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria. She almost certainly was the most experienced at learning new forms of magic. She also knew about the Elements, and Night Mare Moon, and more to the point she believed you were real.”

“Because you left the books in her library.”

“Because I left the books in her library,” the sun princess agreed. She smiled before asking, “Would you have chosen differently?”

“I have no idea,” Luna answered, “which is one of the reasons I’m asking. But choosing someone so young just seems ... risky.”

“My dear sister, what is the most important thing when choosing a Barer?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Luna answered somewhat testily. “I’ve never used them, remember? I was the decoy when we defeated Discord. I certainly didn’t use them when you banished me or when Twilight and her friends liberated me. And we were both too busy protecting Canterlot and Manehatten when they turned Discord back to stone.”

“Unity,” Celestia said. “Unity of purpose, irrespective of whether it’s one alicorn or six ponies.”

“Which is precisely my problem. I can respect Twilight for the level of knowledge and skill she has managed to achieve at her young age. With another ten years she will no doubt be able to accomplish some truly remarkable things. Why one day she may even be able to organise a unicorn chorus and move the sun and moon with their help instead of ours.” Luna looked her sister squarely in the eye. “Which is of course why she is your favourite pupil.”

“Naturally.”

“But on the other wing, she’s a book worm.” Luna insisted. “And I assure you I recognise a fellow bookworm when I see one! In that sense she and I are almost closer kin than the pair of us. That is who you chose to make five really good friends in less than twelve hours?!”

“Oh now Luna, be sensible. Where in equestria did you hear such a thing?”

“From Twilight.”

Celestia froze, and her mane wilted slightly.

“Ah. Yes. You did visit Ponyville for Nightmare Night, didn’t you?”

“At your own suggestion,” Luna added.

“Yes. I take it you spent quite a lot of time with Twilight?”

“Of course. I assumed she wrote to you about it like everything else.

Celestia recovered her composure.

“I think she may have missed out a few things that week.”

“So that was your plan? Vaguely hope that I somehow got better up there, and somehow banish me again if I hadn’t.” Luna snorted. “As if you could make that choice, and cast the spell, faster than I could send you to the sun. You knew you would get banished if you didn’t take immediate action, and you knew I had the Nightmare boosting my powers. So why did you pick Twilight?”

The Sun princess regarded the Moon princess for a moment, before draining her tea and placing the cup back in the table.

“This has nothing to do with Twilight does it Luna? Please ask me the question that’s really on your mind.”

Luna took a deep breath, put her cup down, and stood to assume a regal pose.

“You risked Equestria!” Luna said, slowly and carefully. “For me!” Why?”

“You are concerned I am no longer a fit ruler?”

“It was your job to defeat me if I came back! Not someone else! Your job! You threw away your one chance, got banished yourself, and used Twilight as your only backup. If what I’ve just said is true, then yes, I must. As is my Royal Duty.”

Celestia smiled and nodded.

“As I’ve been waiting for you to. I’m glad to see you’re taking those Duties seriously once again.”

Luna fumed.

“I swear sister, if you make me walk around this table...”

“Oh calm down Luna. To answer your real question, yes I did a lot more than simply offer myself up and poke Twilight in the general direction of your legend. I’ve known for a thousand years exactly when you’d return, and I had time to plan.

“I’ve been monitoring and guiding the development of Ponyville for the last two centuries. It is truly one of the friendliest places in Equestria. I have always had someone like Twilight as my star pupil, and a social recluse is exactly the kind of person the ponies of Ponyville most like helping.

“I knew one of the first things you’d do after banishing me was check on the elements. You’d go straight to the old castle, which is the last place you saw the elements. You’d want to know they were under your control, which is why I had them moved back there. And also why I focused so much attention on Ponyville. It’s as close to the old castle as we can get without encroaching on the Everfree Forest. I didn’t want the Nightmare flying over any other ponies on the way there.

“I also knew you’d try and fail to destroy the elements, since even Twilight knew more about them than you did at that point.

“And finally, I wanted you back.”

“What?”

“The Elements of Harmony are guided by the hopes and desires of the pony wielding them. When I did so the safety of the kingdom was my heart’s desire. When Twilight used them on Discord, she wanted things to go back the way they had a few days earlier. But when Twilight used them on you, she knew what you had done to me. She just wanted her teacher back.”

Luna’s eyes widened.

“That’s why I survived?”

“I believe so, yes. The Elements attacked the banishment spell the Nightmare had cast, and it spent all of its energies, and most of yours, trying to defend it.” Celestia laughed. “It’s somewhat ironic really. If you had ever wielded the Elements, the Nightmare might have been able to use your knowledge to survive.”

Luna frowned.

“How?”

“All it needed to do was let the banishment spell be broken, and the Lights of Harmony would have dispersed without harming the Nightmare. At that point, it would have be safe from the Elements for at least another day, and it would have had six helpless ponies before it; so kill at its leisure.” Celestia paused and thought. “Or maybe it would have acted the same anyway. The nightmare always was all tactics no strategy.”

Luna looked at her sister with awe.

“You planned that?”

“Not entirely. I hoped that you had gotten better, and that I would able to deal with you if you hadn’t. Twilight was my main backup plan.”

“You had others?”

Celestia hesitated, before standing.

“Yes. Yes I did. And I believe now might be a good time for you to learn about one of them.”

Luna stood and followed her sister over to a teleportation tile The special tiles allowed the two sisters to quickly and precisely jump to any other tile in the network, as long as you knew where it was.

“Where are we going? Stalliongrad? Horseguards?” When Celestia didn’t answer Luna sarcastically added, “The Wonderbolts?”

“I am taking you to see the Ultimate Defence of the Realm.”

“The what?”

“Oh it’s just a silly title she insisted upon. You’ll see.”

Celestia touched the tile and both sisters vanished.

Part 2

Ultimate Defence of the Realm - Part 2
by John Routledge

Based on Friendship is Magic, created by Lauren Faust
And My Little Pony, created by Bonnie Zacherle
Render Unto Hasbro That Which Is Hasbro’s...

#

The two sisters appeared inside a cave facing another teleportation tile. Celestia turned around instantly, but Luna stayed where she was, examining and tapping at the floor.

“Tia, why is this floor made from metal panels? This is steel isn’t it?” She turned to follow her sister. “This material is expensive you . . . know . . . ”

Celestia glanced back at her sister, and gestured her forwards with a wing. Hesitantly Luna moved to her side, keeping her eyes locked upon the centre of a complex geometric pattern, etched deeply into the chamber floor.

But Luna wasn’t looking at the spell.

“What is that?”

“A visitor. From another world. We get them sometimes. She appeared a few hundred years after I banished you.”

Luna cautiously stepped forwards. Whatever it was it looked nothing like a pony. It had arms, and fingers, like a dragon. Only its posture wasn’t horizontal, like a dragon, but upright, like a tower. To Luna’s analytical mind, it didn’t look entirely stable. It looked entirely too top heavy. And the head was, entirely the wrong shape.

“It... She?” Luna sniffed delicately. “She isn’t breathing.”

“When it became clear that she had no way home she asked to be frozen until such a time that she was needed.”

“Frozen? Sister, who would ask for such a thing? What would ask for such a thing? Sister, what is she?”

“Her name is Tara. Beyond that, I can’t tell you. I sorry sister, I could repeat the words she used when she explained what she is and where she came from, but they would mean nothing to you, for you would have never heard them before. In words you would know, she is a monster, from a world of incredible violence. A world reflected in her mind and actions.

“By our standards she is a monster. A hunter. A sentient, inventive, creative, predatorial carnivore.” Celestia looked across at her sister. “Which is she other reason she sleeps. Her solutions are much more aggressive and destructive than anything you or I would normally consider. She would not hesitate to kill if she felt it was required. She has done so before, on many occasional. It is what she was trained for.”

“Did you just avoid saying murder?”

Celestia looked her square in the eye.

“Yes.”

“And you just keep her down here, frozen, like some form of pet?”

Celestia adjusted her wings, ruffling and resettling her feathers.

“Why not? We keep Discord in the garden as a lawn ornament.”

“As stone!” Luna insisted. “I know that spell she’s standing in! And I know what that is too!” Luna pointed at a large and burning two-day candle sitting in a very ornate candlestick. “This whole set up is designed to wake her up!”

“But of course. She is both experienced and skilled in the art of defeating creatures far more powerful than herself. With nothing but what she carried on her back she managed to kill a snap-dragon and a hydra before I found her. Afterwards I tried to temper her arrogance by teleporting her in front a grumpy Ursa Major. I thought to teach her some humility. Instead I learnt it myself. She would have killed it if I hadn’t intervened.”

Luna looked back and forth between the two.

“But how could she? I’ve flown over Ursa Majors. High over them. They’re as tall as a castle!”

Celestia stepped to the edge of the room were several short pillars stood. As she swept a wingtip through the black boxes that sat on top, they turned clear and Luna saw what they contained. A ball of ... yarn? A club of some kind. Some small metal ... eggs? An oblong with some strange shapes carved into the underside. What purpose could that serve?

And there were many other pillars.

“These are some of the weapons she brought with her. I’ve seen her use them. I know what they can do. I believe she could even kill me, if I didn’t know so much about her. She is my option of last resort. She was my final backup plan to protect Equestria if Twilight failed.”

“How?”

“That would have been her choice,” Celestia said quietly. “But most likely by killing you. It is how her mind works.”

Luna’s eyes went wide and her ears went back.

“You... planned this too, didn’t you?”

The sun princess wilted.

“I’m sorry. I hoped you might be better. I trusted and had confidence in Twilight. But I had to be sure. I...” Celestia turned away. “I’m sorry.”

Luna looked at her sister, before sighing and walking over to nuzzle her.

“There is no need for forgiveness. We both know how Equestria would have fared under eternal night. You did the right thing.”

“Did I?” Celestia asked. “The ponies of Equestria look up to me to lead them in harmony. If they learned of this I...” She lay down and shook her head. “Discord would know better than I what would happen next. I certainly don’t know how I could lead them. I certainly don’t know what they would continue to follow me.”

She looked up as a blue wing folded itself around her shoulders.

“You did what you felt was best for Equestria.”

“Is it something you would have done?”

Luna’s eyes widened and she hesitated. It was all the answer Celestia needed, and she once again looked away. Luna flinched, before growing angry, then calming to merely stern.

“We both know what a thousand years of night would have done to Equestria. I doubt a thousand years of day would have been that much better. If I had been raising Twilight as my own pupil... I, well, I’m still not sure I agree with you entirely on that. But stopping Equestria’s downfall? You had an absolute duty to do prevent Nightmare Moon from winning. That you acted in spite of your pain should a source of pride, not shame.”

Luna stood back.

“Now stand, proudly, and awaken this perpetual guest. Introduce me to this, this Tara of yours.”

#

She was cold. No she wasn’t. She should be cold. Why wasn’t she? She was standing. She shouldn’t be. Why was she? She could hear, and feel and taste, but couldn’t see or smell. She opened her eyes and breathed in for the first time since being frozen. Except she wasn’t cold? She was in a cave. Two creatures were standing before her. Neither was human. One was Celestia, who looked like she had been crying, and tried to cover it up. No pony would ever meet STANAG requirements. Their eyes just didn’t see colours the same way. She could see the cover job, even if Celestia herself couldn’t. The other creature was...

Tara grabbed her mini-rifle and snapped it up to her shoulder, thumbed the safety off and placing a red sparkly dot dead centre between the other alicorn’s eyes. Her finger tensed to take up the slack in the trigger.

“Target?”

#

Authors note: I may edit these 'parts' into larger chapters at some point. But until then, little and often. :)

Part 3

Ultimate Defence of the Realm - Part 3
by John Routledge

Based on Friendship is Magic, created by Lauren Faust
And My Little Pony, created by Bonnie Zacherle
Render Unto Hasbro That Which Is Hasbro’s...

Luna ignored Celestia as she fiddled with the candle, focusing on Tara instead. One moment she was frozen in time, the next there was a sensation like water rushing out of an upturned bucket as the spell broke, and then she was breathing.

She wobbled slightly before steadying herself, legs and toes twitching for balance, as her head came up and her eyes blearily opened. She stood there, blinking stupidly for a moment, looking back and forth between the two of them with a vacant expression. Then something changed and...

Tara’s arm snapped out right, showing her hand into a nearby black cube, yanking out something large and boxy before the cube could finish turning transparent. In a motion almost too quick to follow, whatever it was ended up pressed against her withers, and a thin red glittering line was suddenly linking the end of the weapon to the middle of Luna forehead.

“Target?”

Tara’s voice was rough, cold, focused, and female.

Luna froze. Not because of the voice, or the question, or Tara’s voice, or her flint hard eyes, or stone cold expression, and not even her clear intent to kill. Nor the tiny and impossibly small focus of unfamiliar energy she suddenly sensed within the weapon (what else could it be?) or the alien whine it made. What froze Luna was Tara’s clear and absolute confidence that she was in no danger, and the horrifying emptiness that Luna sensed behind Tara’s eyes and between her ears.

“No,” Celestia said clearly.

“Are you sure?” Tara asked without moving an inch. “She fits the profile for a high priority target.”

Luna’s eyes tracked left to where Celestia was standing with an equally stern expression.

“No, Tara.”

Tara grunted. The red line disappeared and she relaxed, moved the gun aside.

“Hmm. Pity.” She pulled a strap out of the weapon and slung it over her shoulders and turned to face Celestia. “Male?”

“Male?” Luna repeated. She heard Celestia chuckle before the meaning sank in. She glared at her sister, who moved a hoof up to cover her mouth guilty, before turning back to Tara. “What do you mean male?!”

“No,” Celestia answered again.

“Good. Otherwise I’d have to spank your hide again. Now I believe we had a bet. Come here if you please.”

With a smile Celestia stepped forwards and bowed her head. With a smile Tara reached into the black square again to pull out an odd looking tape measure.

“Let’s see... 56.2 centimeters. That’s an extra 8.6cm, so 282 years, plus or minus 15.”

What’s a centimeter? Luna wondered.

“Very good Tara,” Celestia said as she straightened. “You’ve been asleep 295 years.”

“Yay. I win.” She turned to face Luna. “Who’s this?”

Celestia moved to stand between them.

“Captain Tara, meet Princess Luna, my sister and co-regent. Princess Luna, meet Captain Tara, formerly of the British Army.”

“Captain,” Luna said, determined to get back into this conversation.

She politely extended a hoof. Tara reached forwards to hold the edge of her hoof and shake it. Luna concentrated on holding her nerve until Tara let go. She always found hands a bit creepy.

“Ma’am. Apologies for threatening you earlier, but you looked like someone I should kill on sight.” She glanced at Celestia. “In fact technically you still are someone I should kill on sight. I was told you had been turned into Nightmare Moon.”

“She got better,” Celestia said simply as she stood beside her sister and nuzzled her. After a moment Luna nuzzled her back. “And nothing in a thousand years has made me happier.”

“Yes, well, that’s... charming, I suppose. But I thought you said that you couldn’t fix her?”

“I didn’t.”

“Yes you did,” Tara insisted. “I distinctly remember you saying that the Nightmare was beyond all your powers.”

“No, Celestia means that she did not heal me. She is no longer the guardian of the Elements of Harmony.”

Tara frowned at that before looking to a shelf on the wall containing a row of partially burnt two day candles and one... Her jaw dropped before she turned back to glare at the two princesses.

“Okay, given that you’ve allowed me to faff about for a couple of minutes without interruption I’m assuming that the Principality isn’t facing some terrible and urgent threat. That aside, is there isn’t anything you want to tell me? Anything important? Anything I really should know about?” When neither sister answered her, Tara added, “I’m assuming there isn’t somepony you urgently need me to kill and eat to dispose of the evidence.”

Luna’s head rose sharply at the suggestion, knocking her horn into Celestia’s and making them both wince.

“Oh I’m sorry, am I interrupting your Twincest?”

“Tara, I have never once asked you to kill anypony, or any other living creature.”

“Yet,” Tara inserted.

“Nor have I ever asked you to consume a body to ‘dispose of the evidence’, Captain.”

“Very true. Not that I could manage a whole pony in a single sitting. It would take at least a week. Oh and by the way, why is there a partially burnt five day candle sitting on my shelf?”

“I wanted to give my sister every chance Tara, and I had every confidence in Twilight to resolve the issue. Which she did if you’ll notice. Less than a day was burned away.”

Tara glared at Celestia.

“Oh we are so going to talk about that later. I assume General Twilight is the new commander of the strategic forces?”

Luna sniggered, which earned her a confused glance from Tara before she turned back to Celestia.

“Well I suppose we should do this properly.” Celestia raised hoof to assume the Royal Canterlot Pose. “I, Princess Celestia, Commander in chief of all pony forces in Equestria...” Luna rolled her eyes as they started speaking a foreign language again. “...inform you Captain Tara that there has been a significant alternation in the disposition of Equestria’s strategic forces.

The changes are as follows: Princess Luna is now fourth in line of succession behind the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Beyond a few years in the future she can be expected to second in line. The spell will remain unchanged, and shall continue to awaken two days after my magic disappears from Equestria.

“The elements of Harmony are now born by Twilight Sparkle and her friends, who have used them twice now to avoid disaster.

“This ends the list of significant alterations to the disposition of Equestria’s strategic forces.”

Tara stared at them.

“Twilight Sparkle, and her ‘friends’.” Tara repeated. “Not General Sparkle?”

“No.”

“Brigadier?”

“No.”

“Colonel?”

“No.”

“Major?”

“No.”

“Captain?”

“No.”

Tara sighed.

“Okay, what position does she hold?”

“Twilight Sparkle is my most faithful pupil.”

“Pupil?” Tara asked before snarling, “She’s a student?!” She looked as if she was about to explode with rage, but instead appeared to collapse inward, and covered her eyes with a hand. “How old is this Sparkle?”

Celestia told her.

“I... You... Oh for...” Tara stopped talking and simply growled before starting to pace in front of both Princess. “I give up. I simply give up. I really shouldn’t even be surprised at this point. Parallel worlds. Candy coloured ponies. Castles built with no conception of defence. Visible laser beams. Magic spells. Living sodding Gundams! Why the hell not magical schoolgirls into the bargain!

“Look! Just stand here and talk amongst yourselves. I’m sure Luna has plenty of questions for you Celestia. Meanwhile I’m going to go and check on my equipment until I can stop thinking of industrial uses,” Tara glared at Celestia, “for pony gut!”

She turned and stormed off towards the pillars. Out of the first one Luna saw her pull something involving a lot of pockets, webbing, and straps. The Princess turned to her sister and speaking quietly.

“Is she always like this?”

“Not always, but she can be a little grumpy sometimes.”

“Oh.”

Luna went over the conversation again and sorted through some of the unfamiliar terms.

“What’s ‘twincest’?”

“I don’t know,” Celestia said with a shrug of her wings. “I’ve known Tara for about 6 months over a 600 year period, but I haven’t learnt all the vocabulary from her world. You’re welcome to ask her yourself, if you like, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from Tara, it’s that there are some answers you are better off not, ah... googling. If I’m saying that right.”

“The reverent pause is not strictly required for informal occasions.”

Both sisters ignored her save for an ear which tracked her movements across the cave.

“What she mean by ‘Spank you again’?”

“Ah,” Celestia hesitated. “Yes. She did say that didn't she?”

Part 4

Ultimate Defence of the Realm - Part 4
by John Routledge

Based on Friendship is Magic, created by Lauren Faust
And My Little Pony, created by Bonnie Zacherle
Render Unto Hasbro That Which Is Hasbro’s...

There was an intense flash of white light, and six ponies stumbled and swayed as they appeared in the castle ruins.

“Ohh! That was fun!” A flash of pink exclaimed as she bounced around. “Let’s do that again!”

“Figures you would enjoy that Pinkie,” an orange pile grumbled on the floor.

“Oww! Sorry everypony. I thought that would go better.”

“Twilight darling? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay Rarity. My horn just feels a little warm.”

“Here, let me see. You might have pulled something.”

“Remind me why we couldn’t fly here again? I’m fine by the way. No need to worry about me. I’ll just sway here until I can see only five ponies again.”

“Um, I’m okay. Can you, can you really see more than five ponies Rainbowdash? That could be serious?”

“No, no. I’m fine. Just a bad teleport. Not I’ve never gone thought that before.” She glared at the centre of the group. “Multiple times.”

“Quit it Rainbow Dash! Don’t you go pickin on poor Twilight like that. It weren’t her fault. We’ve all tried things before that didn’t quite work out. The important thing is she got us here.”

“Okay! Fine! I’m sorry!” Rainbow dash shook herself as she looked around. “Where are we anyway?”

“Don’t you remember Rainbow Dash? This is a happy place! One of the happiest places we’ve ever been to! One of the first happy places we ever went to as well. And a bit of a scary place too now that I think about it. But it all ended with a big happy memory so it’s a happy place!”

“Uh huh. If you say so. One big dank smelly old ruin is pretty much the same as another to me.”

“This used to be an important location. This was the castle Celestia and Luna ruled from for centuries before Canterlot was even built.”

“Whatever.”

“And before Luna went craaaaazy!”

“Um, yeah. That too.”

“Well we’re here Twi. Now what? You said the letter included directions?”

“Right. First thing we need to do is orientation. The Tiraseum is outside the castle walls. Rainbow Dash? Can you fly up and look for a big circle in the ground? You might not see actual buildings, but it should be visible as a change in colour or tree height.”

“No problem.” Dash had jumped and was half way to the ceiling before pausing and glancing down. “How big a circle are we talkin about here?”

“About half a mile. Oh, and try and find us a path there. The battle with Nightmare moon and a thousand years of Everfree growth probably tore a lot of things up.”

“Got it! I’ll be back before you know it!”

Dash scrunched up in midair before exploding sideways towards windows barely wider than her body and certainly narrower than her wingspan. The ponies below her braced against the sudden gust of wind and by the time they recovered she was gone.

“Did that letter from tha Princess give any more precise directions Twi? Somewhere near the castle ain’t much to go on.”

“Well, not really. Something reenergised a load of old spells in this area. After a thousand years spells tend to blurr over a wide area, so even where the spell was originally doesn’t help much. Even if that wasn’t an issue at this range it was kind of hard to pin down to a precise location. But let me check anyway.

Twilight’s horn started glowing, flicking at first before growing strong. One of her saddlebags opened and a scroll floated out. The other ponies gathered round as she started to read.

My most faithful student Twilight Sparkle,

A matter of some urgency has arisen within the Everfree Forest, however both myself and my Sister are dealing with important State business, and will be unavoidable occupied for several days. I ask that you and your friends travel to the Old City and investigate the cause. Even after all this time there are things within the Old City, and the Tiraseum that could pose a threat to unwary explorers. It would sadden us greatly if some poor pony was trapped and helpless and had to wait several days before...

“Aren’t you laying it on a bit thick?” Tara asked Celestia.

“Not really. This is how I always write to Twilight.”

“Uh huh. And she won’t be at all suspicious that, with all the resources at your disposal, you pick her?”

“Oh no. I’ve asked her and her friends for assistance on many occasions and they have always been happy to do so.”

Tara looked at Celestia oddly.

“Okay. I’m going to pretend that sounds better than it really is. You do understand this won’t be a valid test if she picks up any hints that something unusual is going on?”

“Why Captain, are you implying that I would help my star pupil cheat on a test?”

“Oh I’ve no objection to cheating. Just specific foreknowledge.”

Celestia smiled.

“So you don’t want me to imply that you’re human?”

“Would she recognise the term?”

“Not really. The last public records of contact with Earth were about 2700 years ago, and neither the Mycenaeans nor the
Glockenbecherk referred to themselves in that manner.”

“The who?”

“My point exactly...”

Your loving teacher, Princess Celestia

“Well there’s not much to go on Twilight,” Rairity said. “Are you sure there’s nothing else?

“Nope,” Twilight answered. “Just ‘somewhere near the Old City and the Tiraseum’. As I said, we’re a long way from Canterlot, and both places look like exactly the same direction when viewed from that distance, even though they’re a couple of miles apart.”

“Well what are we all waitin for? Daylight’s burnin!”

“Applejack’s right. As soon as Rainbow Dash...”

“Found it!” Dash suddenly yelled as she stuck her head though the window. “Easy path too. Just go out that door and I’ll guide you from there.”

“Great job! Common girls! Let’s do this!”

#

Mane six ponies, which I'm sure is what you've all been looking forwards to. And I realise I haven't always said 'she said'. If I've done my job right, it shouldnt matter. :)