How Bright the Moon Shines

3

Apple Bloom shrieked as the changelings mercilessly attacked the unprotected Ponyville.  She looked over at Magic, her eyes wild with panic.  "Why would they attack us?"  She yelled over the chaos and pounding rain.  "We pose no threat to anyone!  There are places with more advanced military that would be more sensible!"  She ducked as a changeling flew strait at her, narrowly missing her head.

"Probably because of the Elements of Harmony!"  Magic called back, casting spells to keep as many changelings away as he could, which was proving to be unsuccessful.  "We have to get shelter!"  He said, backing away from the horde.

Apple Bloom nodded and turned around.  "Follow me!"  She cried,  heading in the direction of the farm.  "We should be safe with my family!"

Magic nodded and followed her through the already mostly destroyed Ponyville.  Houses were either up in flame, the fire slowly being put out be the rain, or destroyed.  He jumped over an eerily still pony, her eyes closed, and burns covering her green unicorn body.  Another one, a tan earth pony with a navy blue and pink mane lay next to her,  breathing shallowly. He turned to Apple Bloom.  "We have to help!  Some ponies are hurt!"

She shook her head.  "We're almost there! We have to hurry!"  She kept running, not looking back.  "Somepony else can help them!"

Magic stared at the injured ponies for a moment longer, than ran to follow Apple Bloom.  The two of them ran into a back ally.

Suddenly Applejack stepped in front of them, looking tired.  "What are you two doing out here?  Follow me!"  She turned the opposite direction of the Apple Farm.  "Come on!  I know a safe place!"

Just as they were about to follow her, a yellow and pink blur tackled her.  "Stay away from them!"  Fluttershy yelled, hitting Applejack continuously.  She turned back to the horrified fillies.  "Get to the farm!"  She looked awful, her mane and tail burnt to a much shorter length, her eyes narrowed and determined.  "I SAID GO!"

Magic and Apple Bloom ran as fast as they could toward the farm.  As they ran, Magic fell and skinned his chin, crying out in pain.

Suddenly, Yankee and Pinkie appeared from behind a corner.  "Were heading to the Apple Farm!"  Yankee called,  standing on three legs, one covered in burns.  "Lets go!"

When the four of them finally got to the farm, Big Mac stopped them, staring each of them in the eyes menacingly.  After a quick analyses let them pass into the house, where Applejack, Scootaloo, Beetle, Lunar, and Twilight were waiting.

Apple Bloom and Magic froze when they say Applejack.  "B-but..."  Apple Bloom almost said, but decided not to.

Lunar ran strait up to Magic.  "Your poor chin!"  She cried, ushering into a different room.  "I'll fix that."

Magic's cheeks turned red as Lunar basically dragged him away, looking back at Apple Bloom awkwardly.

"Are you ok, sugarcube?"  Applejack said, looking at her little sister with concern.  "That must have been awful traumatizing."

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to speak when the door flew open.  She turned to see what it was about, her eyes wide.

Fluttershy was leaning against Big Mac, her breathing shallow and hoarse.  She looked like she couldn't support her own weight and was completely relying on Big Mac to carry her. Her wings were almost completely back from ash and burns, and half of her face had been ripped apart, were her eye one sat was now just an empty socket mostly covered by her burnt hair.

The entire room was in shocked silence as Big Mac carried her over to a table, gently placing the yellow Pegasus down.

After the destructive attack, everypony who survived came out of their hiding.  More than half the population was missing or gone.

Rainbow Dash soon joined the group as they arrived in the town center.  She told them Cloudsdale had ben attacked as well, and had the same result as Ponyville.  Her, Beetle, and Scootaloo flew up to help the other pegasi recover.

Everypony else split part and helped clear the wreckage, hoping to find anypony or thing important.

Twilight ran around, yelling for Spike in the area where the library was, now a pile or ash, half-burnt books, and wooden planks.  She yelled in delight when she pulled him up, squirming.

Magic and Lunar finally joined them after a while, Magic cleaned up.

After what seemed like ages,  nopony had found anything.  "I guess we did our best."  Twilight mumbled.  "I'll write to Princess Cel- I mean Princess Luna." She cringed as she made her mistake.  Princess Celestia had been the first pony to pass, declaring the war.

Apple Bloom sighed. As she turned to head back to the group, she stumbled on something.  She cleared the dust and dirt away, trying to make out what it was.

Everypony heard Apple Bloom's scream and ran over, thinking she was injured or something.  They stopped dead when they saw what she was standing over.

Lying on the ground completely still, not breathing, was Rarity.