Bravery

by Tales of Equestria

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Main 6, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Other, Tragedy, Adventure, Discord, Princess Celestia
Length: 10193

What if Princess Celestia hid a secret from Twilight and her friends that will tear Equestria apart ?

Discord has stepped to far when he gains such a great power that it can overwhelm Princess Celestia and The Elements Of Harmony, and he uses it to cause more chaos than he could do alone. With this bad news the Mane 6 must set out to find out what is causing this madness and once again try to save Equestria. But will it be to late to undo the harm done to the world they know?

Published 2013-07-31 03:00:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-11 15:52:49 UTC

Urgent news

"Twilight,Twilight!" Screamed the young dragon panting in between words. "It's the Princess,she needs you in Canterlot immediately its really urgent,something about fate of Equestria and some big bad guy has been stealing precious artifacts!" Finished Spike running so fast and hard down the stairs that he tripped on the last step coming down and landed on the floor hard. "Ouch that really hurt!"

"Oh wow alright thank you Spike I'll buy a train ticket to Canterlot right now and see what all the commotion is about. I wonder if shes worried about the Elements being stolen? They are the most priceless artifacts in Equestria."Twilight replied curios of what quest her Royal Highness and wants her to complete.

"That's not all,she said that she needs all of the Elements present and that only the power of the Elements Of Harmony can help with a problem this big!" Spike added finally catching his breath and regaining his color.

"Then it must be very serious. Spike would you send a letter to everypony and tell them to meet me at the station,also tell them to pack their saddle bags I have a feeling that were going to need them." She said with a worried look on her face. "Why would she need all of us? This must be a very horrible danger coming our way I hope things don't get to bad I have enjoyed our long moment of peace?".

............................................................................................................

"Yo Twilight, we got Spikes letter that said the Princess needed us whats up? Is something wrong and she needs the most awesomest pony to kick some serious bad guy flank into next Thursday?"Rainbow Dash said impatiently but eagerly in the mood for a fight with just about anypony.

"I wish I knew Rainbow Dash. But if it comes to that we may just have to use our Elements because this is supposed to be the biggest evil that we've ever fought. So stay on your guard and no flashy stuff."Twilight said back as the rest of the group caught up with her.

"Oh oh oh lemme guess Sombra no,Flim and Flam no,umm pizza guys late ohhhh I cant wait this is going to be so much fun I always love riding on the train cause theirs lots of food and new people to meet and oooh remember that one time when we had the MMMM and all the other chiefs brought their desserts and there was the mystery of who ate them and it was you guys that ate it all along that was allot of fun,so who is it Twilight?!"Quizzed Pinkie Pie bouncing all over the place excitedly.

"Pinkie Pie dear if she knew she would tell us. Right Twilight? I mean she would never keep a secret from us were her friends and she trust us,so if she had anything to say about the situation then she would let us know first hand." Corrected Rarity who wasn't even paying attention to anything but her own reflection.

"Exactly Rarity. Of all ponies you all would be the first to know. So if were all done asking questions we really need to get going before anything else goes wrong and were not there to fix it because were still stuck at the train station wondering why everything is wrong and what it could be." Explained Twilight.

"Well then whater we watin fer? No need to keep the Princess watin around fer us to show right?" Asked Applejack dusting off and sliding her brown stetson over her head.

"Applejacks right we need to get going." Said Twilight in a such huge hurry that she bumped into her quiet yellow friend who had her long pink mane fall into her eye and landed on the ground with a loud thump. "Oh Fluttershy I'm so sorry,I didn't see you there. Are you alright?" Apologized Twilight.

"Oh its alright I'm used to not being noticed and bumped into,I just hope that everything is all right and I definitely hope its not something big and scary like that Dragon on Smokey Mountain. Or those mean teenage dragon bullies that taught Spike to be so mean." Whispered Fluttershy.

"If everything was alright the we wouldn't have to be here Fluttershy I'm just happy we get some action,urgent problem or not I need something like this. It's been like sooo boring,and there's really isn't much to do with King Sombra destroyed,Queen Chrysalis and her army of Changelings were sent flying into the Everfree Forrest,and Discord is nowhere to be found. There really inst anymore action." complained Rainbow Dash.

"But Dash dontcha like being Scootaloos Big Sis now? Y'all do get along right,I mean you went on about adopting her fer weeks and weeks on end until yah finally got the place in Ponyville just so y'all wouldn't hafta fly her up to yer house in the clouds. Also she couldn't do he crusadin with Applebloom and Sweetiebell if she was stuck up there in the sky,after all she does have that flight handicap and all."

"Yeah well shes hanging out with Vinylscratch partying it up,and I trust Vinyl to take of her while I'm gone. Besides both of them talk about each other so I figured I'll let her stay with Vinyl for as long as were gone."Explained Rainbow Dash with a lonely look on her face.

Just then the conversation was brought to a halt when the loud roar of the trains horn went off and the conductor yelled out to the large crowd of impatient ponies. "All aboard! The train to Canterlot is about to leave the station!" As if those were the magic words the crowd of ponies started to rush into the train like cows at the sight of a snake.

"Alright girls we need to go can we continue this when were on the train,we cant really afford to miss this train. The next one doesn't come until tomorrow due to maintenance checkups. So lets get going before we end up hoofing it all the way up to Canterlot." Warned Twilight.

"Oh dear no i just got my hooficure and I am not going to ruin it walking up a mountain. And besides I'll die of exhaustion with all that walking,and sweating, and mosquitoes oh no,I must get on that train!" Screamed Rarity madly dashing through the crowd,knocking everypony in her way to the side.

"Cm'on ya'll we'd better hurry up before she knocks the train of the tracks with her prissy tantrum and ruins everypony's day." Groaned Applejack picking up a passenger that looked like he got hit by a runaway carriage.

The five remaining ponies stepped into the train which was beginning to depart the station and they began their long journey into the worst horrors and dangers of their lives yet. Preparing for the terrible news that awaits ahead of them in Canterlot for what kind of great evil could be out there lurking in the shadows for these six brave ponies?

Author's Note

Hey everypony this is my first story and i hope you like it. I plan to post chapter two very soon so wait for a little while and thanks for reading. WUB YAH!

On the run

"Damn it I set off the alarms now I"m gonna have to deal with all the guards surrounding the building. Why cant I just do one simple job for the Boss without screwing up the entire heist?" He thought to himself.

"Hey my name is-"

The doors slammed leading into the magical artifacts wing of the Museum, and in came a small group of Royal Guards with their horns ready to blast magic at anypony in sight.

"Crap! Alright introductions latter." As he frantically looked around for a place to hide he knew that there wasn't much time before he was spotted, he had to think fast to get out of this one. "Damn damn damn, where to go where to go?"

"Search the area the alarm came from in here and he couldn't have gone far." Said the one in front who must have been the Leader because he had the best fitted armor and was the only one with a sword on his belt.

"YES SIR!" Said the other two in unison. These two were clearly the grunts, their armor was banged up and their magic looked small and frail in comparison to the Captain who's magic covered his entire horn.

"Aw man if I don't think fast I'll totally be screwed." Just then he found his salvation at the top of one of the support columns scattered all over the room, making sure that he was careful with the precious artifact sitting in his saddle bag.

"SIR! We couldn't find anypony around the area. If the alarm was set off in this room, then must have been a malfunction." Said the first soldier nervously like his life was on the line.

"Fine lets search somewhere else. He couldn't have gotten very far." Ordered the Captain storming off with the other two stumbling behind him.

Just when he thought he was home free his saddle bag slipped off and began to fall. "Oh no gotta stop it before it falls." he thought while wrapping his hind legs around the column and letting go with his front legs to lean back and catch it with his mouth before it fell.

"What was that!" The Captain spun around in a flash and looked around.

"Whats wrong Captain?" asked the second soldier.

"I thought I heard something.... It must have been the wind or something carry on. Said the Captain turning around hesitatingly and continued his walk through the doors and shut them.

"Finally I thought those little fillies would never leave, now I can finally leave this stupid graveyard of history and give the last piece of ritual to him so he can get rid of these memories that haunt me." He said with relief thinking that he mat have lost his voice due to all the silence.

He then pulled out a remote detonator from his pocket and pushed the big red button at the top. Suddenly all the electricity. shut off and the entire building shook as the generator exploded in a violent ball of fire.

"That should take care of any annoying security lasers or alarms and it should be smooth sailing from here on out." With that he pulled out another gadget and turned it on and it began to spit out hot sparks. He then thrusted it into the wall and began to cut open a door slowly.

.............................................................................................................

"So as I was saying my name is Stardust and for the past two weeks I've been stealing artifacts from different museums all over Equestria for some old geezer promising that if I do this then all my visions of my past will be gone. So that's why I stole from that museum, and so what if it was a bit greedy of me if you had the problems you would do the same. Now go down and press that arrow pointing to the right and read the next chapter I'm done talking see yah latter."

"Nah I'm just kidding we still have to continue the story some more, cant leave you guys on cliff hanger this big. So lets get back to the story alright.

It was around 12:00 PM and the fog was thick in the Everfree Forrest, twigs and leaves snapped under Stardust's hoofs as he casually strolled through one of the most dangerous places in all of Equestria, but he didn't mind. After all Stardust was born and raised in this Forrest, it was his home and he didn't fear it at all. After another hour or so of walking he finally reached the hut where the old man lived.

"Yo old geezer I got the last thing you needed, now preform your ritual and remove these horrible memories that aren't even mine!" Yelled Stardust walking up the stairs that lead to the old mans study/lab.

"Oh goody that's my boy always doing me proud without arguing." Relied the old man from inside the room closed by an odd door. It was a double door with one side showing pictures of a happy day with other ponies playing around enjoying the day, the other was a little odd. It showed the same place but things were different, ponies running madly while pink cotton candy clouds rained what looked like chocolate milk and rabbits taller than ponies with apples so big that the trees leaned over because of the weight.

"Don't talk to me like your my dad, I know my parents are dead and that I have no family left!" Screamed Stardust with a painful look on his face and knots in his stomach.

"My dear boy you of all ponies should know the phrase never say never, and besides I always thought of myself as your adopted farther." He said with a heartbroken look on his face as if he actually cares about Stardust. The old man himself was about as odd as his door. He had a deer antler on his head, a goat leg, a bat wing on his back, and a snakes tail.

"Just do the ritual and I'll be done here, and I'm starting to have my doubts about your talents so something good better come outta this. Or are you just wasting my time with your silly games?" Asked Stardust hoping to get either results or answers out of the old man.

"Oh your no fun, alright if you insist on rushing through a pleasant conversation then hand me the last artifact. I'll get it prepared, you just go and get the other artifacts off the shelves and place in the smaller circles that I will draw. Ordered the old man drawing a circle with a strange liquid.

Stardust did as he was told and gathered the artifacts and placed them in the smaller circles around the bigger one. "There now what?" He said agitated at the time he's having to waste here.

"Now I will place the final piece in the middle and you stand in front of me then I can begin the ritual." He replied with a sly smile going from one side of his face to the other.

"Why do you need to be in the circle to, this spell is for me only." Quizzed Stardust unsure of whats happening around him or what the old mans planning.

"Duh the spell works better at a closer range, and what could be more closer than inside the circle. Honestly what do they teach this generation in school? Oh well, here we go!"

The old man began to start chanting while the circle began to glow purple and the only thing that Stardust could make out was one phrase. "Bodies separate, minds are joined, split the soul of this boy, and allow the other to be my toy." Then a big white flash blinded Stardust.

The next thing he saw was himself. Was it a mirror? Then he got up, no not him he was still on the ground. "Who are you?" He asked himself or was it hi? This was all to confusing for him to understand.

Then he saw a familiar figure step into sight. "My dear boy, he is your other half the one who responsible for those memories that were not yours." The old man said still holding that sly grin on his face.

"How is this possible? How was he inside of me?" Stardust said struggling to keep consciousness with his vision blurred, and his head ringing.

"Do you know the story of your parents? I assure you its a good one." He said leaning down so close to Stardust face that he could smell his breath.

"Yeah they were murdered by some crazy pony. But what does that have to do with him?" He asked covering his nose from the attack coming from the old mans breath.

"Oh it has everything to do with him my boy, you see they were very talented magic users. Their power were known all across the land, eventually they settled down and had to babies. Their names were Commit rain and Stardust. But over the years Commit became jealous of his brother and resented hi parents for loving him more. Eventually the oldest found a book full of forgotten dark and evil spells and he practiced them in secret hoping to impress his parents. When he had practiced these spells to the point of mastery over them and he showed his parents his talent. But when they saw what he had become they said he was a monster. Those words threw the eldest son into a fit of rage and he lashed out. His parents fought him until they realized that they could not stop him, they made the ultimate sacrifice. With their dying breath they sealed the oldest into their youngest son and erased his memories of what happened with his parents and the oldest son." He finished his story and stood up looking down on Stardust like an ant.

"So hes my older brother?" Stardust asked still shocked at hearing the story.

"That's right my dear boy and now he is free to do my bidding now I've got chaos to rain all over Equestria, bye bye!" He said and then Slammed his leg into Stardust's face knocking him unconscious and then they walked away leaving him behind in the crater that was once a hut.

There Stardust lied for days, until he was found by a stranger in a brown cloak. "What do we have here? Somepony unconscious oh the poor dear." The stranger then picked up Stardust and took him somewhere warm where he was taken care of until he could get back on his feet.

Author's Note

Alright first yes he was sorta like a agent but I'm going to say this now. It was all powered by magic. Second I use Stardust as a way to talk to the reader, he acts like me that's how I made him. And finally third I'm not saying what type of pony Stardust is because that would be a spoiler to the book.

Hope you liked chapter two, and three will come soon. WUB YAH!

The truth revealed

It was a dark night and the air was so freezing it could give a Windigo a cold. Snow covered the the city of Canterlot like a blanket over a mare sound asleep. Smoke bellowing from every chimney only to be taken away by the sharp cold gusts of wind but the fires below remained strong and determined to keep the ponies nuzzled together in front of the bright red and yellow blaze

"Jeez Twilight do yah think the Princess could have picked a better time to call us up here, I'm freezing my flank off." complained Rainbow Dash.

"It doesn't matter right now, if Princess Celestia says it's urgent then we need to bare and grin all the way to the castle if necessary." Replied Twilight who was as cold as she was but couldn't afford to show it right now.

"Yeah well she could have at least told us to pack a jacket, it's summer down in Ponyville and I didn't pack my saddle bag for a arctic mountain hike."

"Well were almost done walking, as a matter of fact were nearly there look its the castle gates lets go girls we don't want to be late for an audience with the princess." Said Twilight dashing forward with her five friends not to far behind her keeping pace to the best of their ability.

It didn't take long for the group to make it to the castle gates where the Royal Guards quickly opened the with their Unicorn magic. The girls just kept running not stopping to say hello or thank the Guards who almost looked disappointed that they were not greeted or thanked for the job that they do. First they ran straight up the walk way into the entrance which was always decorated with large statues of Alicorns, the golden rails leading up to the upper section, two large windows blue and yellow representing the moon on the right and the sun on the left.

"Were almost there the Princesses chambers should be just up ahead." Yelled Twilight swerving around a corner almost knocking one of the maids over who was polishing a marble column.

Another pair of Guards used their magic to open the door which lead into a large room with a big fireplace and a familiar white Alicorn sitting on a purple rug with a large yellow pillow. She turned around with a deep look of concern on her face as she got up to greet her guests who almost bashed straight through the oak door which had been closed behind them in a yellow bubble of magic.

"Twilight my faithful student it is so very good to see you, although I do wish that this visit was under lees drastic circumstances but this is a problem that I can no longer ignore and it has gotten to the point of which I require you and your friends assistance." Princess Celestia explained getting up to give her student a warm hug before sitting back down and pulling seats for her other six guests.

"Yes I know, and we came as soon as we got the letter. What happened, did something terrible occur while I was away in Ponyville? Asked Twilight with a look that matched the Princess.

"Yes there has been a evil that has risen once again that goes by the name that we all know as Discord."

This time it was Rainbow Dash who replied "What! But I thought we taught that guy a lesson when Fluttershy had to (reform him) and he promised to use his magic only for good." She yelled angrily at just the thought of the Draconequus which made her blood boil.

"As did I but it would appear that he has changed his mind about how he will use his powers and has now steeped over the boundaries of magic by harnessing a power so ancient that it's tale has been forgotten for ages. Do you wish to know the story?" She asked sitting and clearing her throat ready to begin.

"Aw man do we-"

She was interrupted by Twilight who shot her a dead serious look and revised Rainbow Dash's sentence. "What she meant to say is that we would love to right Rainbow Dash?" She asked giving her a look similar to Fluttershy's stare that she gives to animals.

Rainbow Dash just crossed her hooves and said "Fine lets hear the story."

Celestia nodded and began her tale, As the time passed and the tale went on the six ponies sat on edge through every word all the way until the door leading into the chamber busted open and a tired bleeding Guard with gashes in his armor ran in wheezing for breath before bowing his head and addressing the Princess. "Your highness, an explosion just occurred in Manehatten and fires have burned most the city, there's been no word from any of the other Guards and I just barely made it out because I was in a carriage transferring to Canterlot Castle.

"Oh no this is awful news, thank you um what is your name sir? Princess Celestia asked curious to know who this soldier was so that she could thank him properly.

"My name is Flash Sentry new recruit You Highness." He bowed his head while looking up at the beautiful purple unicorn in front of him and smiled.

Twilight blushed and looked away hoping nopony saw her reaction, then quickly looked back to her mentor waiting for an order.

"Twilight you and your friends must investigate what happened and look for signs of survivors I have no doubt that Discord is behind all of this havoc." She said looking out her window at the smoke illuminating the sky over the city with a look of pure terror and disbelief. "The next train should be hear in an hour until then I need you to take Flash Sentry to the medical wing for treatment on his wounds." She said pointing at the Guard who was now laying on the ground.

"Of course Princess Celestia I promise that we will not let you down and we'll be back before you know it." She said turning around and picking the Guard off the ground by herself and putting him on her back dashing out the door. "Lets go Girls I don't know how much longer he can last with these wounds, it's a surprise that he even made it here alone."

Once again the group was madly dashing through the hall of Canterlot Castle all the way to the Royal Guards infirmary where the doctor quickly ran him into a room where he bandaged his wounds. There he lied in a bed with the other ponies at his side nervously glancing at one another.

"Oh my do you think hes alright?" Fluttershy asked with her hooves over mouth.

"I don't know Fluttershy dear but I do hope so." Replied Rarity holding Fluttershy to keep her calm.

"He'll be fine sugarcube yah just gotta wait'n see, infact I reckon he'll' be wakin up soon. Applejack said reassuring her friends that everything was fine.

"Oh oh oh look, his eyes are moving isn't that a good thing?" Pinkie Pie asked while bouncing back and forth happily.

"See what did I tell ya'll I knew a fella like that wouldn't go down without a fight." Applejack said with a proud smile knowing that she was right.

Flash Sentry's eyes began to flicker open and his vision began to come back. He attempted to sit up but was stopped by a unbearable pain in his side which almost caused him to roll off the bed if it wasn't for somepony who caught him. "Thanks uhh whats your name?" He said with his head still facing the ground.

"Oh my name is Twilight Sparkle, and yours is Flash Sentry right?" Twilight said answering his question with another one.

"Yeah that's me. Wait Twilight Sparkle where have I heard that name before?" He looked up and couldn't believe who had just caught him, it was that Girl from before the one in the Princess's chambers and if he wasn't mistaken she was also one of the six Elements Of Harmony. "Your Twilight Sparkle the Element Of Magic!"

Twilight was startled by this response, infact she wasn't even aware that anypony knew that she was an Element. "Well yes but my friends prefer to just call me Twilight, cause I'm pretty sure that Twilight Sparkle the Element Of Magic wouldn't fit on a name tag." She said back with a little giggle setting Flash back up on the bed leaning against the wall.

"Yeah good point." He said laughing along with her and everypony else in the room. "So where am I at anyway?" Flash asked puzzled by his surroundings.

"The Infirmary." Answered another pony on his other side with a rainbow mane. "You were bleeding and unconscious so we brought you here."

"Oh yeah that." Flash said not remembering what happened after he passed out in the Princess's chamber.

"So if you don't mind me asking what happened in Manehatten, what exploded?" Said Twilight bringing the conversation where it needed to be.

"Not much to say considering i was half way out of town and on my way here, but I do remember hearing some crazy laughter coming from nowhere. I also saw a pony with a long white mane on a roof, a flash of light and then BOOM! The explosion sent out a shock wave that caused my carriage to flip over and a lose piece of metal must have went through my side, the driver unfortunately didn't make it. After that I walked all the way here and you know the rest of my story." He said shivering at the thought of what happened.

"Crazy laughter huh, well that's startin to sound a whole lot like Discord to me ya'll." Said a pony with a brown Stetson and hair in a pony tail.

"Your right Applejack it does sound like something he would do." Agreed Twilight who began to leave. "Well Girls we better get going, it was nice meeting you Flash." She said with a smile

"Wait I'm coming to." He said trying to sit up but halted hi movement as he felt the pressure of his wound opening up and he sat back down yelling in pain.

Twilight rushed back and set him back down. "No you need to rest up if that wound is gonna heal, I'll be back soon to see how your doing." She said before turning off the lights and leaving Flash to his thoughts.

"Alright everypony we need to hurry up and catch that train." Twilight said sprinting through the halls for the third and final time in her life.

Author's Note

Hey guys there it is chapter 3 in this long story hope you guys like it. cause I was just going with the flow on this one. Thanks again for the support. WUB YAH.

Dormant powers

The air smelled odd to Stardust, it was a strange mix of different scents. Sweet, sower, bitter, juicy. Wait no these aren't smells their tastes that he felt in his mouth. But how he wasn't holding a cup or a bowl. If he wasn't doing this then who was? Stardust attempted to get up but was stopped by a splintering headache. He began to feel dizzy and laid back down where the familiar tastes returned to his mouth while an unfamiliar voice spoke to him.

"Please do lay down, there is no reason to walk around." It was to dark to see the strange figure speak in rhymes. The only presence of light was dim and it seemed to be coming from what appeared to be a black cauldron.

"Ugh wh-what happened, where am I? All I can remember is.... I cant seem to remember what happened." He couldn't remember anything after the old man betrayed him. "Wait wheres the old man that lived in that hut?"

"I know not of the old man you speak, nor do I know the hut you seek. I found you in smoke and haze, the trees around were deep in blaze." She replied walking over to a lantern with a candle that came out of nowhere and lit up the room.

This new found light brightened the room which didn't look much better now than when it was in the dark. The room was covered in all sorts of odd items like trinkets, masks, and shelves covered with different herbs and liquids of different colors in vials of all shapes and sizes. The rest of the home it self looked like it was made out of a large tree.

"Alright fine, then lets recap on my second question. Where in Equestria am I?" He asked curiously still not completely captured by hi surroundings.

"I have brought you to my home, and you are safe here so please stay calm." She said walking over to a chair to rest herself and prepare to answer any other questions.

"Okay then question number two, whats your name?" He asked with an expression that showed he didn't trust this strange pony in front of him.

"I go by many names in this forest, but you can just call me Zecora." Zecora said waiting for a similar answer.

"Alright fine then I'll return the favor and tell you my name. I'ts Stardust and I really need to get going, so thanks for all the help but I gotta go find somepony." But as Stardust attempted to stand he was stopped by another headache and laid back down.

"You must lie down, your making it worse by moving around. I will wake you up when morning comes, then I will help you with your problems.

So Stardust obeyed and lied back down and quickly fell asleep. In his dream he found himself in a dark room where he couldn't see a thing. The air was cold and it also felt evil as if somepony was in control of the entire room. This new place felt familiar but at the same time it felt changed.

"Can you feel it yet? The darkness inside of you that has been awoken?" A chilling voice creeped in from somewhere.

Stardust tried to speak but found he had no voice to counter whatever was speaking to him in this dark place. Emotions flooded inside of his body but there were to many to pick out.

"Why cant you accept who you are deep inside. It will be so much easier if you just come with me" The voice continued and a black door came out of the ground.

Stardust began to walk towards not realizing what he was doing or who was in control of his actions. He reached for the handle but hesitated when a new voice spoke.

"No don't do this you can't walk into the darkness, for you may never return." It said. This voice seemed different from the other. Stardust could sense a more light and gentle spirit behind it, it also seemed to calm his nerves as if its words were like a soothing melody running through his soul. Another door opened, this one was white and seemed to have a warm light radiating from it.

"No! You will stay away I am in control of him now you have no place here!" The other voice said in an angry tone.

"Well I think we should allow him to decide what path he should choose." The second one said.

Stardust began to feel his voice return to him which felt like an eternity since he had it and he began to speak. "Who are you and where an I?" He said in a demanding voice. "And why should I have to choose?"

"We are you and you are us." The first one said.

"We are your to inner halves and this place is your own inner world where we converse with each other, and you do not have to choose either of us. You may simply call on us when you need us." The second one finished.

"I don't understand, what do you mean by call on you?" He asked as his head began spinning in circles with so many unanswered questions running through his mind.

"Ha, looks like he isn't very bright is he?" The first said with a hysterical laugh that sent chills up Stardust's spine.

"As I recall your one of his halves, so doesn't that make you as bright as him?" The second said and if Stardust could see the spirits face he was sure it was smiling.

The two voices began arguing about all sorts of things. It started with petty insults that eventually led to a full on fight. The sounds were a mix of grunts and smashing and with each crash of sounds a shock wave burst through the air.

"Stop it right now I'm done here, and I am not making any decisions so go away!" He yelled not being able to take anymore of the waves and the loud sounds.

Before either of the voices could reply the world began to shake and the ground crumbled right out from under Stardust's hooves. He fell straight down into nothing but darkness until a reached a light which brought him back to the real world in a fit of sweat and terror.

"I am glad to see your finally awake, now it is time for tests you must take." Said Zecora who had just opened a door leading to what looked like a back yard outfitted with strange objects on wooden posts and weapons of all shapes and sizes surrounded by trees.

"What kind of backyard is this, and what do you mean tests?" Stardust asked getting up and walking over to the door. Wait walking, how was that possible every time I get up I have a headache and fall right back down. He thought about the strange dream with the voices. Maybe it was real, maybe it some how healed him.

"This is where I stay and train, and this is where you will be today." She said picking up a large sword and tossing in the air so high that it took a few seconds for it come back into sight, and when it did it landed right in front of Stardust's face.

"Hey what the hell is wrong with you? That could've chopped my head off, are you crazy! He yelled falling backwards on his flank.

"Pick up that sword if you dare, then we shall see how you compare." Zecora said grabbing another sword and getting into a fighting stance.

The sword in front of Stardust seemed pretty normal. It was a large claymore with a wide and thick blade and a keychain at the end of the handle linked to a little blue orb that seemed strange.

Stardust stands up and holds the handle in his mouth with a tight grip. "Fine I'll pick up the sword so we can get over with but I don't see what this proves." He said as he looked up to find Zecora wasn't there anymore. "What, where there hell did you go."

"If you hope to see me with your eyes, then you will be taken by surprise." She said from somewhere in the trees. No it was from behind him, but before Stardust could react he was hit with the back side of her sword. She then used the back of his head as a trampoline to jump right in front of Stardust.

"Ow that really hurt dammit" He said rubbing the back of his head.

"Do not let your guard down, or else I will give you a frown." She said swinging her sword right at his face.

Stardust blocked it with his sword but was sent flying into a pile of barrels crashing and breaking them. "Dammit stop doing that." He said brushing off all the pieces of wood.

"This battle all depends, on how much that you want to win. Now I will stop holding back, here comes my next attack." She said switching her blade forwards, and dashing towards Stardust with full intent of killing.

Dammit if I don't move quickly I'm dead. Move, move, move. He thought to himself but was to petrified with fear to dodge.

"That's it boy let me take control, I can help you win." Said a familiar voice going in his head.

Then Stardust began to lose control of his thoughts and his body wasn't moving by his choice. He slowly started to fall deep into the back of his mind, as he watched a battle that he wasn't in anymore. He watched as Zecora's blade come down on him, he looked away from what happened next. Then he felt his body jerk forward and a loud cling sound came.

"Ha ha ha ha, oh this feels great!" The voice said but not from inside his head. It came from his mouth, but he knew that he didn't say it.

Stardust's sword blocked Zecora's with ease but it was different. The orb at the bottom was now black and his sword followed turning into dark steel with spikes running down one side of his blade.

"Who is this that I see, are you still the same pony fighting me?" Zecora said struggling to keep her blade locked with his.

"Nope sorry to disappoint you but Stardust has just left the building, would you like me to take a message for you?" The new Stardust replied looking up at Zecora with pure red eyes and dark black hair. He swung his sword up cutting Zecora's shoulder sending her flying backwards.

She flew into a tree and bounced off and the ground was sure to follow. She caught herself and looked up just before his sword came down and barely managed to block. Then he started swinging madly while laughing, until his strikes brought Zecora to her knees as he raised his sword for one final blow. She closed her eyes not wanting to see the outcome. Stardust came down but not with his sword. He hit the ground and his sword was stuck in the tree centimeters from Zecora's head and he was unconscious. His eyes returned to their golden color and his hair returned to its dark brown shade.

Zecora didn't know what to think. This new transformation wasn't normal instinct, it was almost like a possession. Well whatever caused this wild beast to emerge from Stardust is gone. The new forum must have tired his body to the point where he couldn't sustain that state and he collapsed. But those eyes, they were pure red like the eyes of a demon or a monster. There was no soul in those eyes, only madness and evil. Whoever this boy is he's dangerous. She thought to herself lifting Stardust on her back and wobbling inside her house, with her shoulder still bleeding and aching not knowing what to think about the event that just transpired, but one thing she knew was that they both needed rest. So she lied him down in a bed and she sat in her chair still disturbed by the images that she has seen today, but eventually she falls into a well deserved sleep.

Author's Note

Alright there's chapter four of this story and our first action sequence, so I'd like if you guys could tell me what you thought about it cause that's my first time writing a fight scene and it really was just meant to show one of the voices personality's. So thanks for the support and also I'd just like to say that I've reached the hundred views which isn't a lot but it's still kinda cool. So thanks guys and really leave a comment on what you thought about the fight and how it can be improved, and also about Zecora's dialogue. Wub yah.

Not every apple blooms

The train slowly screeched to a halt as the tracks diapered. The conductor walked in through the door and took off his hat and said. "End of the line ladies. Prepare yourselves the city has seen brighter days." The six friends slouched out of their seats and began walking to the door. Applejack trotted ahead of the others, looking as if she's seen a ghost, or she was about to see one.

The conductor was right about the city. Just from the girls perspective they could clearly see the fires and the ruins of what used to be a beautiful city. Fire decorated the roofs and sides of most of the buildings, or at least the ones that were still standing. Luckily the bridge connecting the land to Manehatten was still intact aside from a couple of support cables dangling from under the bridge.

Rainbow Dash couldn't find the words to say so all that came out was. "Uh...I...um...wh" She just sat their and shook in disbelief. Her breaths coming out in halves. For once Pinkie Pie was speechless. Not even a halfhearted giggle bounced off of her tongue. Rarity and Twilight shared the same horrified look as they both stared at the rubble, eyes wide open with fear. Fluttershy was curled in a ball, terrified and sobbing.

But the worst was Applejack. She just stood and stared at it, petrified with terror. Knees trembling, breath shaky, and her eyes were bliss as if the very soul was stripped straight out the sockets. She was a mix of all the others fear all mashed up into one racing heart.

Twilight regained her composure and managed to address the others with a trembling voice. "E-everypony calm down we need to search the city for survivors, or whatever caused this. If you see Discord Don't confront him without us. Fluttershy you and Pinkie go and search the Market District, Rainbow Dash you and I will go and search the Housing District, Rarity and Applejack you two will cover the.."

"Park, were going to search the park." Applejack interrupted, still not moving an inch from where she stood. "Please Twilight, I need to check the Park." She continued. She knew that the Park was on the other side of the city, but she didn't care one bit.

"Alright Applejack, if you really need to check the Park then I wont stop you." She replied clearly seeing that her friend was in an unstable condition that no amount of words or reasoning could shake her out of.

She just nodded and began to sprint down the road,right passed a semi destroyed sign that read. "Manehatten square."

"Rarity, go with Applejack and make sure she stays safe. What ever may have caused this might still be lurking around, and one more thing. Under no circumstance can you die, understood." Twilight said giving reassuring nod before turning around to talk to the others.

Rarity nodded back and began sprinting after Applejack, gaining speed with every second that her hooves hit the ground, until she was completely out of sight.

Faster and faster she ran, never losing pace and never straying from her path. Applejack knew that no matter what she couldn't stop until she knew that her entire reason for being here was still alright. She ran passed shattered windows to store stores, cafes, and a what looked like a bank, and the streets riddle with rubble, blood, and bodies. But there was no time to mourn. The entrance to the Park was just up ahead and already Applejack could smell smoke. She took a quick glance upwards to see the fire that was bellowing from inside the Park.

"Applejack, dear can you please slow down? My hooves are feeling absolutely awful and I believe that I'm beginning to sweat." Rarity panted, struggling to keep pace with the champion workhorse dashing towards the doorway that led into the Park, that for some reason Applejack has become obsessed with.

Applejack heard her friends cries but couldn't stop for anything, not even her own friend that surprisingly managed to keep up with her.But never mind that she had to keep on running, hoping that it wasn't to late.

It didn't take long for Applejack to cross over the burning remains of the park. But when she had made it to her destination it had already been to late. What she witnessed was to much for her to bare and she crumpled into a heep of sorrow and disbelief. This realization gave Rarity enough time to catch up to see her friend in a mess of emotions."Noooo! Darn it no!" She screamed.

"Whats ever is the matter Applejack, are you alright?" Rarity asked unknowing of what events have transpired before her friend.

Applejack just slowly raised her shaking hoof in a direction of what looked like a burning Tree House. That was half crumpled down.

It took Rarity a moment to notice something that made her heart jump straight out of her throat. Amiss the rubble and charcoal, was a small blue and gold cape hanging off a lose pipe stuck in the ground. Rarity immediately realized what it was, and why wouldn't she? After all it, was made in her boutique. She understood everything that happened now. "Applejack i'ts just a Tree House, why are you so upset." She asked puzzled.

Then, it all became clear of what she was pointing at. Just a couple yards from the cape, leaning up against a wall, was a small earth pony. The was yellow, well she would've been yellow if it wasn't for the semi burnt skin. She had red hair tied in a pink bow, with blank orange eyes. But the one thing that was most noticeable, was that she had no cutie mark.

"Oh Celestia no." She said leaning down next to Applejack, holding her trying to siphon out some of her sorrow. It was in vain, for Applejack just started to wail in agony. The pain of what she saw finally got the better of her, forcing out every tear that was physically possible.

Minuets turned into hours, and still the cries rang through the air, never stopping, never losing pitch. When she was finally done, her eyes were bloodshot from crying. She just lied in Rarity's arms sobbing and rocking herself, until she tired her self out and fell into a deep sad sleep.

Rarity, still holding Applejack in her arms looked up at the sky, waiting for her friend to wake up, wondering how if she will still be the same pony from before. "Oh Applebloom I'm so sorry." Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep, hoping that when she awoke, it would all be a bad dream. But in this world, there's no such thing as a bad dream, just reality.

Author's Note

Hi everyone, here's chapter 5, and let me say that I cried writing this chapter. Applebloom's death will not be forgotten. I had reasons for writing this chapter, but I know that they don't justify the tragedy that I have created. With this chapter I give purpose for Applejack later in the story. I am truly sorry and all hate for what I've done is welcome. By the way, from here on out I have a CO writer, and her name is Lady_Facepalm. She's a very talented writer, a good friend of mine, and I look forward to our partnership. You may want to check her out, she has some amazing stories. Oh yeah and one more thing, I have a blog for anypony who has ideas for stories or chapters so if you have an idea and want it to be heard, then message me and we'll talk. Well that's all guys, and sorry again for Applebloom. WUB YAH!

Surprise party

The air was almost energetic and happy around Pinkie Pie as the bounced joyfully though the ruins. Fluttershy didn't have the same feelings in this desolate city. She tried to hide her immense fear but was lacking the confidence and stature to do so. Pinkie Pie kept bouncing up and down, higher and higher. She jumped over garbage cans, broken down carriages, and even food stalls that had collapsed under the pressure of falling debris. All the sights and smells made Fluttershy feel sick.

"Umm, Pinkie Pie can you slow down a little?" Fluttershy asked in low soft tone.

"But if we slow down we might miss something really cool. Like a ice cream shop that didn't get smashed, or some birthday cake that might be cold and all alone." She replied back almost hitting the dim light hanging from a bent over pole.

"Oh, but we need to see if anypony is around." she said, "Twilight asked us to find any survivors. We may need to slow down and search a little slower and closer."

It was to late though, Pinkie Pie had already dashed off leaving a cloud of smoke in the shape of her body. Running madly with a grin going from cheek to cheek saying something about cake and ice cream.

"Oh no, Pinkie wait." She said reaching a hoof out toward someone who was no longer there. "Eeep" She squeaked lowering her a head and shivering with fear.The area around her felt like it was getting darker< creeping on her faster and faster. Her breath's began getting shorter and shorter. Trembling with terror she just froze up, petrified. A clattering sound came out from an alley."Eeek!" She screamed jumping in the air and grabbing to an overhead lamppost. "W-who's there?" She asked, "Pinkie Pie is that you?"

A shadow danced across a wall, running around the corner into a dark and mysterious concrete pass. Fluttershy slowly floated down and landed on the ground silently.

"Come on Fluttershy, be brave, don't have any fear, your the Element of Kindness. If you can handle Nightmare Moon, then you can handle an alley." She encouraged herself.

She began walking into the alley, shaking with fear and uncertainty. The alley was much more darker up close than far away. She took a deep breath and slowly put one hoof in front of the other. The shadow appeared again in front of an apartment building, before climbing up a fire escape ladder into a broken window. Fluttershy was about to fly up to the balcony when she felt a hoof on her shoulder.

"Ahh!" She squealed nearly jumping out of her skin. She slowly turned around to see a familiar pink smile.

"Hi! Whats up?" Pinkie Pie asked turning her head at an angle with big blue eyes, waiting for an answer to her question.

"Oh my." She said sighing with relief, "Where were you? I was so worried."

"Cake." She replied with complete and utter honesty.

"W-what?" Fluttershy asked, confused by her strange answer.

"I was looking for cake, Remember? I said it like a bijillion times. So, whats up?" She asked again, still curious of her friends findings while she was gone.

Fluttershy's eye's spun in different directions, as she shook the confusion out of her head, "I saw somepony climb that ladder, and I was just about to follow. Then you showed up." She explained.

"Oh oh oh, maybe they know where to find the cake." She said with excitement bursting out of her.

"Wait Pinkie Pie, I don't think that's a good idea. We need to..." But yet again, Pinkie was one step ahead of her, climbing the ladder and jumping into the window. "Oh fine.' She said flying over the balcony and in through the broken window.

The house seemed normal aside from the dirty walls and papers strewn across the floor. Pinkie was searching in the fridge mumbling about cake and parties. Then a rustling came from the other room. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy cautiously made their way to the room. the door was cracked open enough for them to peek through. There was a mare in a black hood that covered his face, though his white mane was falling down past his shoulders.

They would have stayed undected, if it wasn't for Pinkie slipping on a magazine and knocking the door open. The mare jumped up and stepped back next to the window behind him. Then he leaned down and let out a groan of pain as a dark glow came from under the hood and a horn appeared. Suddenly a dark portal opened up and Changelings poured out. The Mare leaped out of the window and fled.

"Oh my, what are we gonna do?" Fluttershy said hiding behind Pinkie who just picked herself off of the floor.

"We party!" She said as her hair seemed to deflate and turn darker, pulling out her famous party cannon and blasted two of them through the wall. The others replied to this attack with full force. They all jumped at once, but Pinkie didn't flinch. Instead she pulled a conveniently placed bat out of the corner behind the door and swatted one aside like a fly. The others soon joined them as Changelings went flying across the room. The leftover Changelings figured out that Pinkie was to much for them, so they moved on to Fluttershy.

The first one jumped at her, but failed when Fluttershy tripped over a broken table leg and it flew into a mirror behind her, as the shards of glass pierced it's brain killing it. Two more charged at her from opposite sides, lunging at her with all their might. She saw this and ducked in fear. The two Changelings couldn't stop themselves as they crashed into each other knocking them unconscious. The last ran straight at her with teeth bared sharp. She got up and tried to hide behind the door unaware and unprepared for the attack, but the Changeling didn't expect Fluttershy to get up and as she swung the door open the Changeling smashed right through it. A large piece of wood from the door had pierced it's heart.

"Wow, that was fun!" Pinkie Pie said, wiping blood off of her face, "We should party like this again sometime. What do you guy's think?" She looked around at the former attackers that she had just finished off, "Yeah I agree." She continued as her hair and personality changed back to cheerful and bright pink.color.

Fluttershy didn't notice Pinkie Pie's change though. She was to busy hiding to pay any mind to that. "What was that?" She asked stepping, over dead bodies and broken furniture.

"I don't know, but those meanies left without their party favors." She said in a pouting manner,"Don't they know how to be a good guest at a party? So rude."

"Umm, Pinkie Pie? I don't think that was a surprise party." Fluttershy replied.

"Did you just say the name of the chapter?" She asked with a puzzled expression on her face.

"I-I don't know how to react to that." She said, even more puzzled than Pinkie,"But who was that Mare, and how did he conjure that portal? I didn't know Changelings could be summoned."

"I don't know, but he has really bad manners. Leaving without saying goodbye, and leaving us with complete strangers." She complained walking over to the window where Fluttershy stood.

"Pinkie Pie, I think we need to go now." She said walking away from the window and into a new room. What she saw was much worse then what was in the previous room. She gasped in horror at the sight as Pinkie Pie ran in the room in a panic.

"What? What is it?" She asked looking at her friend and following her gaze to what was causing Fluttershy so much shock. It was the corpse of a orange filly with pink hair covering one side of her face. It didn't take Pinkie Pie long to realize who the filly was. She remembered her from the Summer Harvest parade. It was Applebloom's cousin, Babs Seed. Her entire chest was torn open and her entrails were showing. The sight made Pinkie feel sick. She seemed to be holding a journal of some sort, Pinkie picked it up and read the last entry.

Final Entry. If your reading this then i'm no longer alive. I may not know you, but I need to ask you a favor. I need you to go to Phillydelphia, where my family is staying for the time. Ask for Granny Smith, she'll know how to tell the others. My parents are already dead, and i lost track of my cousin in the explosion in the park. Don't bother taking my body to them, I don't want to burden you. Just tell my family that I love them. Thank you.

Pinkie Pie closed the journal with a heavy look on her face,"Come on Fluttershy, we need to go." She said walking out the doorway.

"Go? Where are we going to go?" She asked wiping tears from her eyes.

"Phillydelphia." She replied climbing down the ladder and beginning her long and painful journey. "I swear I'll pass your message on Babs. That's a pinkie promise"

Author's Note

Well with school taking up most of my time, it took me awhile to get this done. But I managed to put the time in. So here's the long awaited chapter six in this tale. Speaking of the story's progress, it may be awhile until i can get another chapter in, so I need you guys to bare with me until then. Other than that, thanks for the support and comments. Wub yah!

Commercial break

Hey guys, It's me Stardust, I decided to write this chapter real quick since I'm on my way to Manehatten. So I thought hey why not ask what you guys think about the story so far. The story is still far from completion but I wanted to know what you all think about the way the story could go, or give your opinions on how this story has gone so far. I intend to do a chapter about myself and my adventures in the city when I get there. I'm walking there because the train to Manehatten just left, so it's gonna take awhile to get there. I herd something bad happened so I wanted to go check it out. I should be there around the end of the next chapter. But till then you can tell me what you think. All types of comments are welcome, and all opinions will be herd. So thats about all..... "OH CRAP! Was that an explosion?" I gotta go, bye.

Author's Note

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.