Chapters Chapter 2
Moonsinger
Princess Luna was still hugging her adopted daughter, when a low cough from one of the guards, brought her back to reality. A swift glance over her shoulder showed her, that Pin Cushion, a greycoated Earthpony stallion with blue mane, was trembling under her sisters weight. Deciding there would be time enough for celebrations later, Luna broke out of the embrace, even so the Unicorn mare gave her a look of disappointment. A gentle look from her end however, ensured the mare that she would make up for it later.
"I feel I owe all of you an explanation, but before that there are more urgent matters at hoof."
Luna turned towards two Pegasi stallions that were with the group that had come to their aid earlier.
"Starfire, Flametail, please bring my sister to the nearest Inn so she can rest. Don't forget to bring along a doctor though, I think she will need one."
"As you wish mother."
The two stallions said in unison before they took Celestia from Pin Cushion and flew off with her between them. The other five Ponies, didn't seem to want to move however. They continued to watch over Luna and her guards expectingly.
Goldshield and her comrades found themself in a quite difficult position, on the other hoof. Goldshield had been hesitant to just let these to Pegasi take Princess Celestia, but she had no other choice. She had seen these Ponies fight, and even if she hadn't she and the other guards were exhausted from galloping most of the night. There would be no way of taking out even one of them in their current state. All she could do, was to trust in Princess Luna, just like Shining Armor would have done.
"Verry well then... Everypony, I welcome you to my refuge. I welcome you to the garden of shadows."
Luna said kindly.
"Garden of shadows? Mind me, but that ain't a verry happy name for a place this lively.",
Cherry Pie commented, before she realized whom she was talking to and winced at her own words. Luna however just chuckled at her guards irony.
"You are quite right Cherry Pie, but this place was not founded on happy terms, nor in happy times. But before you get bored with my refuges history, let me introduce my daughter....."
The brown Unicorn mare with the dark brown ears, blonde tail and mane stepped forward.
"This, is Moonsinger. Before any of you ask, no she is not my biological daughter, but I love her no less because of that."
"Does that make her a Princess aswell?"
Quick Arrow asked, while tilting his head to one side like a puppy examining a particular interesting thing. Luna was about to answer him, when Moonsinger glared at Quick Arrow, and lashed out at him, her eyes glowing in rage.
"I do not desire any kind of royalty or recognition from you daylight Ponies! Your titles and ranks mean nothing to me, or any of us, neither do we recognize your "Princess" as the rightfull ruler of Equestria. She has done NOTHING to earn our respect, but cast us aside like garbage. The only authority we accept, is our dear mother."
There was so much poison in her tone, that Goldshield seriously feared for her comrades safety for a moment, when Luna interfered with Moonsingers fit of rage. Placing a hoof on her daughters shoulder, the Unicorn looked up at Luna. The Princess of the night, gave her a look of disappointment in return.
"I think it might be better, if I myself continue from here Moonsinger. I don't remember raising you to insult my sisters authority, or to lash out at my subjects."
The Unicorn mare looked down at her hooves, looking like a little filly that just got scolded for stealing a cookie from the cookie jar, her eyes slowly returning to her light green color.
"So what should you do, if you did something wrong?"
Princess Luna looked down on her daughter, with a smile on her face.
"Appoligize..."
"So?"
"Mother, I'm grown up now, there is no need to ...."
"Oh I think there is a need to lecture you, if you do something wrong. So come on, appologize to them."
"Awww, alright...."
Moonsinger turned towards the guards again and this time, her expression was one of joy and happiness. The angry Unicorn from just seconds ago, seemed so unreal all of a sudden.
"I greet thou and welcome you in the guarden of shadows. Everypony is welcome here, aslong as they stay true to our dear mother and her teachings. My name is Moonsinger and I sincerily appoligize for my earlier outburst, but Celestia is a touchy subject for me."
With that, she gave the group of guards a bow, as if she was greeting visiting royalty. They were so suprised, that they returned the gesture, not to be seen as rude. When all of them had stood up again, Luna put her left wing around her daughter, and gave her a look of approval, while pulling her closer to her.
"I imagine, there will be no more bad blood between us so let us continue where I left off earlier. I was about to tell you about this place, an I think it is crucial that you know these things before you wander it's streets. All of you might remember, that my sister and I have not always been the rulers of Equestria. The three races had been devided for a long time. Only after the events on Hearthwarming eve, did they start to work together. To ensure, that all three races had a say in the fate of the newfound kingdom, a grand council was formed. They made all the decissions and it seemed like everything was going fine, until Discord came along. He used his strange magic on the council and suddenly there was infighting between the races again. Strange enough my sister and I, both representatives of the Unicorns in the council, were immune to his influence. We ascended to Allicorns after we banished Discord with the ancient magic of the Elements of Harmony. After that, the land was in chaos and there was a great shortage in food. Many children had lost their homes and family due to the infighting that had ruled during that short amount of time. The Orphanages were overflowing and many foals never even got into one. Most had to fight for their survival on a daily basis. Moonsinger here, was one of them, back then her name was Cherry Scotch. On one of my visits to inspect an orphanage in Hoofington, I met her for the first time. We talked for a great length of time, and I would have liked to adopt her then, but I could not without my sisters permission. We had been decided upon as equal rulers to Equestria, but that also ment that neither of us could do something without the other one agreeing. I saw how awefull the foals were treated, and I heard stories from Cherry Scotch that made the hairs on my neck stand up in horror. I had to do something about it. Forming a plan in my head, I presented the idea of this place to my sister. Here I could teach the orphans how to plant and harvest crops. I could teach them what they needed to stay alive, in other words. Celestia however objected my idea. She thought that this would devide the kingdom and destabilze it even more. I started an argument with her, but she is quite headstrong. If she has decided something, there is no way of convincing her of something else."
Luna sighed as she remembered what she had done all those years ago. In retrospect it had been the right thing to do, but back then she had always been afraid of punishment for defying her sister.
"Long story short I did it anyway. One night, after I had put up the moon, I flew over all of Equestria and gahtered all the foals without a family. I brough them here, and created this barrier that shrinks everypony who steps inside. This way I created a whole land for my children. This clearing is only about a hundret feet in radius, but shrunk to the size of ants, millions can live here. With my magic I created this town, at the verry edge of the barrier, with a house for each of the older foals. They all took in several of the younger ones, and took care of them. I helped them as much as I could of course. Cherry Scotch, did not want to stay with any of the newly formed families, so I took her under my wing personally. That was when she became my adopted daughter.But I could only come by at night, and they where used to living in the light of day. That changed with time however. After a few months my children became nucturnal and I also discovered many other changes in them. Imagine my horror when I found out that my magic leaked out of the barrier and affected them. My worries were laid to rest soon when I discovered these changes were of positive nature. Earthponies inhertied some of my physical strenth, Unicorns some of my magical abilities and the Pegasi became faster then any of those outside the barrier. Also I discovered, that they age very slowly. Only about twice the rate of an Allicorn. For a mortal Pony that is quite amazing. All that is due to their life inside my barrier. Had I not done anything about it, many of them would have starved on the streets or had suffered an even more gruesome fate. And that's the sole reason why you can all come to know Ponies who were born long before you grandparents. The downside was, that my children became very sensitive to sunlight. They would never again be able to live like normal Ponies.... Me becoming Nightmare Moon, had something to do with that.... I wanted to bring eternal night, so my children wouldn't have to hide inside during daytime. I did it so that not every ray of sunlight hurt their eyes and caused them terrible headaches... I did it, so that my children could always be embraced by the gentle light of the moon... How my rebellion ended, you all know... I can't blame Moonsinger to feel a little angry over my banishment, nor any of the others, but please try to understand them. They see me as their mother, and Celestia took that away from them for a thousand years. So please try to get along with them. Now, let us leave it at that. Moonsinger, please escort them to the Inn. I trust my old quarters in the town hall are still intact?"
"Of course mother. Except the weekly cleaning, and changing of the sheets, the room has been left untouched."
"Very well. Captain Goldshield?"
"Yes your majesty?"
"Please follow Moonsinger with the rest of your squad. Tomorrow night we will have to start planning a counter attack. Chrysalis shall not win this...."
Absentminded, Luna started to trott towards the town hall, leaving her guards behind.
Moonsinger gestured for the guards to follow her, even so it was obvious that she would have loved to just throw them out of the barrier again, right into the changeling horde. Princess Lunas request to escort them however, and this seemed to be absolute for her. Something that was not up to debate. Goldshield sighed in relief. She wanted to sent a few guards with the Princess of the night, but the five remaining citizens of this strange place had already taken a defensive formation around her. A frown formed on her face. These Ponies would not let anyone near her, not even her own royal guard, of that much she was sure. Still more then frustrated about the facts that her rank and profession ment nothing here, she trotted after Moonsinger who had already gone ahead, followed by the other guards.
Quick Arrow looked around as the strange Unicorn mare, who was supposed to be Princess Lunas daughter, led them through the streets of this strange settlement. He saw a market going on, in the middle of the night, lit by several lanterns floating in the air. They were, no doubt, held in place by magic. The awkward silence among the small procession was unbearable for the energetic Pegasus.
"So..... What is this place called anyway? I mean you already told us that we are in the garden of shadows, but I think that's more like the name of this whole area, not only this town, is it not?"
He asked Moonsinger, trying to get a conversation going.
"You are right. This land, or better this clearing of the Everfree Forest, is called the guarden of shadows. This settlement is named Gemini.You will soon discover that many towns in the garden are named after constalations on the nightsky, in honor of our dear mother."
"How come you even knew we were in danger back there?"
Pin Cushion joined in with a Question of his own.
"Well, that is rather easy. All of us carry a spark of our mothers magic in us. When she used her powers to reach out to us, that spark acted like a compass, leading us right to her."
Moonsingers tone was still friendly, but she didn't turn around once to look at her mothers subjects.
"So what did you do to those changelings?"
This was Goldshield, who had just caught up with the group.
"Well... what would you do to somepony who was threatening your mother? We killed them of course. We've had to deal with changelings in the past, and they usually know better then to approach our land."
"You killed all of them?"
Quick Arrow added, the shock obvious in his voice.
"Yes we did. After you had left the area, about fifty of them came charging at us, but it was an uneven battle. I alone could have done it, if I had to."
Goldshield could not believe this. Princess Luna, as she knew her, was so gentle and kind, even so she was a little short tempered at times. But imagining that this mare, who talked about killing others as if it was the most natural thing to do, to be raised by the gentle Princess....
"Do you enjoy killing that much? Princess Celestia taught us, that killing is never right."
But even as the words left her muzzle, Goldshield knew she had made a mistake. Moonsinger turned around so quickly, that Goldshield almost collidet with her. Her eyes were once again aglow, and she was obviously furious.
"I do NOT enjoy taking another's life, but I will not let anypony escape if they endanger my mother, my sisters or my brothers! We are NO monsters, but we DO what has to be DONE! That is one of our dear mothers most important rules, and you better remember it! What good is mercy against an enemy ,that wants nothing more then to take your life and do horrible things to the ones you love? Sparing them only gives them more time to prepare better next time. More time to plan against you and eventually stab you in the back! I don't know how you bunch of naive foals got our mother through their lines, and I don't care. The fact that you did, is reason enough for me NOT to throw you out right away. That, and the fact that our dear mother wishes for your safety, are the sole reasons you are still here! It is true that everypony is welcome here, but I seriously don't think you will fit in. We will help you to recapture your kingdom, if that is what our dear mother wants. Afterwards however, I never want to see your sorry flanks here again, or I will show you WHY the changelings call me "Bloodsinger". Did I make myself completly clear?"
Most of the guards were shocked at the outburst, but Goldshield stood up to Moonsinger. She placed herself between her and the rest of the guards, her stance low, ready to charge.
"I am loyal to BOTH Princesses, no matter what you say. The Princess has ordered us to get along with you, and we do our best here to do so. We even show interest in the seperate culture you have developed in a millenia of seperation from us. Now, will you calm down, Moonsinger, or do I have to beat some sense back into you untill you understand that I didn't mean to insult you, or your lifestyle?"
Moonsingers eyes lost her glow immideatly, and for a moment she looked dumbstruck at the Earthpony mare, before breaking out in laughter.
"You? Beating sense into me?"
Goldshields anger grew stronger and stronger, since the Unicorn was not taking her serious. But were she to actually attack Moonsinger, she knew that she most likely would suffer the same fate as the changelings. Instead she decided on a different approach.
"Yeah well.... It was worth a try, wasn't it?"
She tried to make fun of her own previous statement, when Moonsingers hoof clapped on her shoulder.
"Maybe I misjudged you Goldshield. I like your sense of humor!"
A few minutes later
The atmosphere between Moonsinger and the guards had lightend up, even so she was mostly talking to Goldshield to whom she seemed to have taken a liking. She showed them many things, and it soon became obvious, that she showed them the scenic route. The Luna temple, the Crater restaurant and even a strange counterpart to Ponyvilles Sweet Apple Acres were only a few of the sights that Moonsonger showed them.
After a while they reached the town square again, only a few hundred hooves away from where they had started. Goldshield sighed as her suspicissions were confirmed. This almost thirty minute detour surely was Moonsingers way of getting revenge for ticking her off earlier. The now even more exhausted group, came to a stop in front of a building shaped like the head of a giant Timberwolf. Fair enough the sign above the door said "The Timberhead".
Chapter 4
Goldshield sat down at the round table of the Inn, Moonsinger had brought them to. Quick Arrow and Pin Cushion were ordered to guard room number thirty one, in which Princess Celestia rested. The other three guards rested in their respective rooms. A steaming hot jug of tea was placed in front of her, by a greycoated earthpony stallion, who was this Inns landlord.
"Here, that should ease your nerves a bit. I hope Moonsinger hasn't given you too much of a hard time, captain Goldshield."
"Just call me Goldshield. Moonsinger made it quite clear that my rank doesn't mean anything here."
"Well.... Even though this is true, you still are a captain of the royal guard."
He said while sitting down at the table across from her.
"Well, she was quite friendly the second half of the way, but I don't think it was quite necessary to lead us all the way out to Moonlight Farm, just to come back here in the end."
The landlort looked at her for a moment, wideyed, then burst out in laughter.
"So she gave you the "scenic" route then? Figures she would, but please don't hold it against her. It's just her telling you that she may like you, but has to get used to you for a while."
"Well with her eyes all glowing like that, it looked more like she was ready to pounce on me, then to invite me to her birthday party."
"Oh you mean this?"
He asked as, his eyes began to glow like the moon.
"Y...yeah..."
"This is not really a sign of rage, Goldshield. In fact, our abilities vary greatly from those would see in daylight Ponies. I am sure our mother has told you about it. Our glowing eyes come forth, when we call upon our dear mothers gifts. For me, as an earthpony, it is increased physical strength. Unicorns use it to strengthen their magic and pegasi fly faster then any of your daylight pegasi could ever dream of. The problem is that, continous use of these gifts, exhausts the user pretty fast. We are just mortals after all. Our bodies are not made to wield such powers."
He explained as his eyes went back to their normal chestnut color, and he took a sip out of his own jug of tea.
"So... Why is it that Moonsinger is so angry towards us that she calls upon those special powers?"
Goldshield inquired as she tried the tea, Bright Light had poured her. He put his jug down on the table and began to scratch his head with one hoof.
"I don't know if I should tell you... It goes back all the way to the time before we came to live here, so basicly it's a private thing for Moonsinger, but I guess you have a right to know since she can be missunderstood at times. I was, you must know, one of the foals who was in the same orphanage as her, so I know most of her backstory. Do you really want to hear that story? It's a sad one, but it has a good end."
"Yes.. please. I just want to understand why she hates us so much, and especially Princess Celestia."
He shook his head as he continued.
"She doesn't hate you. She just doesn't feel any sympathy for you either. You mean nothing to her, that's all. It's quite easy to tic her off though, since our mother made the only mistake I can remember, telling us about Celestias refusal to let her found the garden officially. You must know, that back in the day, there were many, many orphanages that burst with orphans. I myself lost my parents to a quarrel between Pegasi and Earthponies. Some others became discorded and just abandoned their foals. Moonsinger, or Cherry Scotch as her name was back then, was one of those.In our orphanage, there was always a shortage in food, toys and even books so we could learn something. All those things however were very expensive, and we orphans didn't get any allowances... Some, who didn't have the luck of being in an orphanage, sold their bodies to make some bits... Oh don't look at me like that! Foal prostitutes were quite common back then. It was illegal ofcourse, but no one really cared. Nor did they care for those who got... injured while doing so.... They simply died miserably in the streets."
He took another sip, watching Goldshield carefully to estimate her reaction. The only expression he saw however was one of utter suprise, and interest.
"Others begged for money and they also managed to get by, but some Ponies didn't take it too well if you asked them for a bit to spare... I heard of foals who were beaten up by adults, just for asking for a bit so they could afford a bite to eat...."
A tear formed on the corner of Bright Light's eye and rolled down his cheek.
"And the last sort of us, were those who did neither of these things. They either stole stuff from stores, or raided trashbins at night. In most the orphanages, there were those foals who we called..... attention whores.... They did everything to make our caretakers like them and as a result some of them were chosen. The chosen ones, were always well fed and cared for. They never recieved a single beating, like the rest of us. Why was that you ask? I see the question in your eyes... The answer is quite simple. In case of an inspection of course. They could always hide away the rest of us and only present the few chosen foals to the Inspector."
He took another sip from his tea, giving Goldshield the opportunity to throw in a question.
"But... if you said there were... foal prostitutes... Does that mean Moonsinger..."
"No! Never! She would never have done such a thing! Cherry was a gentle Pony and, even so you might not guess it nowadays, she was also rather shy towards other Ponies. She overcame that flaw however, when it came to taking care of us. She begged on the streets of Hoofington and raided trashbins at night, to provide us with enough food so we wouldn't starve. Judging from the look on your face, you have never been in the danger of starving. I can tell you that, if you had ever been, you wouldn't look that disgusted. If you are really hungry, because all you had all day was only a small bowl of moldy hay, then another persons trash seems like a five star dinner. Anyway, I'm trayling off. That is the only a part of this story I can tell you from my own account. The rest I heard from our mother. I never ever dared to ask Cherry Scotch about it, since I thought it might be a touchy subject. What happened that night was this: "
And he leaned forward on the table, looking Goldshield deep in the eyes.
"Our orphanage had gotten wind of an upcoming inspection by Princess Luna, as you refer to our dear mother. Since it was common knowledge back then that she slept during daytime, even so she can stay awake for weeks if she has too, our caretakers sent us to bed pretty early. They got their "chosen" out and waited for the Princess. Cherry took that opportunity to go out earlier this night, to get food from the trashbins in the nearby shopping district. It was, as she told me once, always a case of who was there first, cause other foals obviously had the same idea to get food. That night however, Cherries luck finally ran out.... There was this one storeowner... I think it was a bakery or something like that.... However, he was a really bulky one. Very strong and with a very short temper. I don't remember his name, since it's been so long, and I never fancied associating with him. Well, he was also known to be a regular customer to some of the foals.... It was also common knowledge that some of the deaths in the streets, went to his account."
"Then why did nopony do something about it? That's not only illegal, but that sounds like a case for a lifesentence in the spice mines! Surely the royal guard would have...."
Goldshield interrupted him, but Bright Light just sighed.
"The royal guard had only about twenty members back then, and they had their hands full guarding the palace and the princesses. An organized group of lawenforcers was just non existent in these times. Anyway... Where was I... Ah, yes. Cherry was about to get a bunch of slightly burned pastries and bread from his trash, as he came into the alleyway through his stores backdoor.... From what I hear, he was not to pleased by this discovery. He beat her within an inch of her life, the whole time she was trying to escape him, but apparently his grip on her was too firm. Had she managed to break free, I am sure up to this day, that she could have outrun him. Sadly even her magic wasn't of any use at the time, since she couldn't even use telekinesis. So when he had finished venting his anger on her, he tried to have his way with her right there in the alleyway. Had he succeeded, he would most likely just have ditched her body somewhere and she would have been just one more prostitute that had died. Just before he could however, our dear mother passed by the alleyway and just happened to hear Cherry's muffled screams. She dashed in there, and tackled him off of Cherry Scotch. I don't know if the light wasn't enough for him to notice her wings, or if he just didn't care, but obviously he thought it was his lucky day. He thought he might get to mares for the price of none, but he had underestimated our mother. She has never even told us what she did before she became a council member in the old Equestria, but she disposed of him in a matter of seconds. When the royal guards, that had fallen behind, caught up with our mother, he was crouching in a dark corner of the ally. He was immediately charged with attempted rape, uncalled for violence toward a minority and an attack on royalty. He didn't resist as one of the guards took him away to the nearest watch station to imprison him. I think you will never guess what happened next."
"Well... Ehm... She ordered the guard to take Moonsinger and bring her home?"
He laughed again and, this time, brought down his hoof several times on the table as if she had made a particular funny joke.
"No way! She levitated her on her back with her magic, and carried her all the way back to the orphanage. The remaining guard, she ordered to get a cart and confiscate all the products inside the shop, then follow her. When she reached the orphanage, she gently put her into a bed and fed her with some of the bread and milk the guard had brought with him. She completly ignored our caretakers while she did so. They were making to store away the food she brought, but as she noticed this, she snapped and pointed at us, who had gathered around Cherry Scotchs bed."
"Look at these foals! They didn't have anything decent to eat in weeks by the looks of it. Judging from the ones that stand around you, you were trying to fool me into believing that everything was going fine here, but that is far from the truth!"
"Then her voice became gentler and she gestured for us to endulge in the cartload of food. I don't think I have to mention that we did. Oh I had never been so full in my life after that cart was empty. In the meanwhile, she chewed out our caretakers even more and had then returned to Cherrys side. They talked all night in fact. Cherry told her everything, while she listend horrorfied. Before she left, she assigned the guard she had brought with her, an unicorn named Silver Helmet, to stand guard over us so we would never be mistreated again. Also she promised Cherry Scotch that she would come again and take her away from this awefull place... However, she didn't come for several days after this. On the fifth night after that incident had occured, a bright light shone through the window of our bedroom. I, as an earthpony, am unable to sense or tell the difference of magic. Cherry however woke up immediately, since she had sensed our dear mothers magic. She glided right through our window, embracing Cherry who had run up to her. However, she was quickly disappointed as our mother answered her question, if she had finally come to take her away, by shaking her head. Before she could show her disappointment however, she adressed all of us."
"I have come to take all of you with me, my children."
Bright Light broke out in tears as he remembered this line, from so long ago.
"And that is how we became the children of the night, since our dear mother is the ruler of the night, we entitled ourselves that way."
He sobbed in joyful reminiscence, as Goldshield had stood up and patted him on the back with her foreleg.
"And then she took you with her? I still don't really understand why Moonsinger reacted the way she did."
He turned on her, and his expression was one of a teacher looking at a really dense foal.
"Do you really not see it? We were living miserabel lives. All the adults were living in the light of day, while we had to scavenge TRASH in the night. They never were kind to us, nor cared if we were miserable or not. All they cared for were their own petty lives. We got laughed at, and beaten by some very mean ones, even raped as I just told you. Orphans... no one will miss them, was the general opinion. And there, our dear mother, ruler of the night, was willing to get into a hoof to hoof fight with a stallion twice her size, just because some streetmeat orphan was recieving a beating, and was about to be raped! It was the very first time an ADULT had shown any of us ANY kindness. AND it wasn't just any adult either, but a princess! She could have cared less about us. Most adults may have seen the scene, but they would just have moved on, without doing anything! That was when Moonsinger or, as I usually still call her, Cherry Scotch, started to act different towards Ponies who prefered the light of day. After our mother had told us about her sisters refusal to do anything about our situation however, she grew more then cold towards Celestia and her subjects. Our mothers banishment didn't help ease her opinion on that account either. It was shortly before that banishment, that, for some of us who already had our cutie marks, they changed. Mother always told us that it had something to do with the barrier, and I have no reason to disbelief her. It was then, by the way, that Cherry Scotch, after a discussion with our mother, changed her name to Moonsinger. For her it was the last tie to be broken to her former life in the light of day."
"But you can't grow your crops without the sun."
"No we can't, but we can harvest them at night. I am sorry Goldshield, but you still think to much like a daylight Pony and that will be so for a while. Your sun may be brighter then the moon, but you don't see the other differences... The sun doesn't only gives life, but it also burns. It can hurt Ponies if they are exposed to it for too long. The light of the moon is much gentler, and sufficient once you get used to the lack of my namesake.... bright light. I advise you to take a closer look at both Princesses, and you might find that their personalities resemble their celestial bodies."
Chapter 5
Sunrise
Moonsinger was sitting on the nose of the giant Timberwolf head that was her husbands Inn, directly under Princess Celestias window. From beneath her, where the small living room was, she could hear Bright Light and Goldshield talk in great length. She didn't like the idea that he told her about her past, but she guessed it couldn't be helped. He had always been like this, and he was kind of right... That guardcaptain had a right to know why she had snapped towards her. Looking at the horizon, Moonsinger sighed. She just couldn't forget the envents from over a thousand years ago... In fact it was closer to two thousand, but she liked to refer it to it that way cause it made her sound younger. Also she thought... Had she lived a life without the barrier, she would have been dead centuries ago. All of her friends and family had moved on and maybe not forgotten, but forgiven what happend back then. Even Bright Light had told her, that she is to think about Celestias position at the time, and that there were more pressing matters that needed her attention. She had to admit, that if she thought about it logically, she understood some of it, but she didn't WANT to forgive Celestia. The only reason she had levitated herself up here, was to give the Princess a piece of her mind. As she had looked through the window however, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She looked so vulnerable, lying there in the sheets and hardly breathing. Despite her not liking Celestia, Moonsinger felt compassion towards her for being hurt that way. Shortly after her mother had been banished, the barrier had lost in strenghth and a Timberwolf had somehow breached it. In fact it was the same Timberwolf on who's head she was now sitting. It had been the first time her mother hadn't been there to protect her, ever since she had started to live in the garden. For her, it was devistating. She felt she had been abandoned again and left powerless. As the eldest of the foals, she had attempted to drive him off herself, and gotten injured pretty badly. Had it not been for the combined effort of her friends and family, she wouldn't have lived to see her mother return. Relating to Celestia this way, felt strange inside, but she didn't want to unload her grudge on an injured Pony, so she just sat there listening to her husband laying out her backstory in front of a complete stranger, and watching the slow descent of the moon as the night came to an end. The sun slowly began to rise. Before long she would have to go inside, unless she wanted to deal with a major headache later.
Celestia was looking out of the small window, of the room she had awoken in as she worked her magic to raise the sun. She had no idea where she was, or how she had gotten there, but that was no reason to neglect her duty. The last thing she remembered, was exchanging magical blows with Chrysalis, and a painfull hit on her neck when she tried to dodge it. After that her memory was filled with vague expressions, blood flying through the air, Ponies galloping through the darkness and her sister screaming... Yes, Luna had been screaming, but she had been too weak to move. Even now she felt weak and the bandages around her neck, hindered her free movement a bit. Someone had treated her, while she had been out like a candle. When she had tried to leave the room earlier, there had at least been a familiar sight in the corridor. Pin Cushion and Quick Arrow, two of her royal guards where standing just outside her door. They looked tired and worn themself, but were as vigilant as before. However they had asked her to stay inside for now and rest. Questions as to the whereabouts of her younger sister, or where they were, they didn't dare to answer. Quick Arrow had said something to her, that put her mind at ease at least for a short while.
"Your majesty, I don't understand it completly myself, but I can tell you this: We are safe here and Princess Luna is sure to come see you soon. Until then, please rest. I am sure she will be able to answer all your questions."
Hearing that her sister was fine from a familiar face, was all she had needed to relax. She had just rested her head on the the pillow, when a light knock on the door caught her attention. Celestia asked the Pony knocking to come in, and was delighted to see her sister stepping into the room, even so she was looking very tired and untidy. Her coat was dirty and her mane was disheveled as well. Also she noticed that her sister did not wear her crown as she sat down next to her on the bed, without a word of greeting. Celestia could see that something was wrong, and that she was about to find out what it was. She didn't press the matter however, since she wanted Luna to come around at her own pace.
"Big sister... Do you remember one thousand five hundred and three years ago, when I asked you to take action in favor of the orphans of Equestria, and you refused?"
"Yes... I remember that we got in quite the argument over that. I don't understand what that has to do with this, but you must understand that I was under alot of pressure back then. Our new Equestria was in a state of chaos, and we just could not afford to fund any more....."
"I do understand your reasoning now Celestia... Why I asked you if you remembered it, is that I have to make a confession to you."
"So will I finally hear, that it indeed was you that was responsible for the mass vanishment of foals from all over Equestria, which you denied so vehemently?"
Celestias tone stayed gentle and kind, even so she felt disappointed to see the expression on her sisters face, which showed her that she had hit the nail on the head.
"You... can't be serious? I was actually only joking."
"Well Celestia, you were right on target there... Yes I did take the foals, and brought them here. You are inside a barrier that I created only five nights after our conversation. The foals from back then have formed an entire country here, and are currently sheltering us from harm."
"So we are safe? Will they help us, to regain control over Equestria?"
"You... are not mad?"
"No I am not... maybe a little disappointed, but not mad. As it looks, your little rebellion had it's uses in the end."
"Big sis... You don't know the entire story... I messed up... I messed up greatly. When I cast this barrier, I was quite sure I could do it, but I messed it up.... Some of my magical energy is radiating from it and has made this Ponies near immortal, like ourself, and gave them some extraordenary powers aswell."
"Luna! That is a disaster! You have to bring that barrier down at once! You know we are not to meddle into the fates of mortals like this, unless we intent to make them fellow Allicorns."
Celestia was exasperated at this revelation. They had sworn never to do such a thing. Allicorn magic was dangerous and should be handled with a certain level of caution.
"I... can't."
"Why not? Has the spell moved out of your reach? If that's the case I'm sure I can help...."
"That's not it sister... If I bring it down, the parts of my magic that keep them alive inside each of them will vanish as well. I would doom over three hundred thousand Ponies to death."
Celestia swayed a little when she took her words in... Three hundred thousand.... When they had sunken in, she turned her head towards her sister and now her expression was one of anger.
"Luna... I am verry disappointed in you. I can't ask you to bring down the barrier then.... but you must realize that they will never be able to be integrated into our society. Being away from the barrier for too long would kill them!"
"I know big sister. You don't have to remind me. There hasn't been a single day in the last two thousand years, that I didn't regret my mistake. Oh don't get me wrong, I would do it again, but the messed up spell is what I regret."
"So... The Ponies that live here, are actually over a thousand years old then? Will they help us? As I remember the Ponies of that time where not at all like current Equestians."
"They will help us if I ask them to, but there is another thing you must know. Please don't get me wrong, but you have no authority here."
Celestias muzzle dropped for a moment before regaining a little composure.
"What do you mean? Am I only a Princess in name only now?"
"No. Nor am I a Princess here. For the Ponies here, I am their mother. Ranks and royalty never had any value in my refuge. You must adjust to that. I think most of the Ponies here will still listen to you, out of respect for me, but my daughter..."
"YOUR DAUGHTER?"
Celestia screamed almost at the revelation. It was not a scream of pain or anger however, but one of shock. There was certainly alot to take in.
"My adopted daughter... Don't fret the details... In my absence however, she seems to have taken charge of things. You will have to face her eventually and let me inform you, that she doesn't like you very much. She blames you solely for my banishment and is still angry about your refusal of additional funding and better control, for the orphanages back then. I looked it up in the town hall, and I think she did a very good job organizing things around here. But don't get me wrong, this is a peacefull place. Moonsinger, as my daughters name is, has organized a lawenforcement group in each settlement. They are most likely the only ones trained in combat, since they also deal with the ocaussional Timberwolfs or other creatures."
"So... I will have to deal with her, berfore we can discuss any plans of recapturing Equestria?"
"Not nessecarily, but I would prefer it that way so there is at least less bad blood between you two."
"I guess that is the best course of action. But your explanation about the barrier at least explains why my magical senses are confused. I sense you all over the place."
"Well naturally... A spark of my magic is in all of them, so of course you would sense me in them. With time you will be able to tell the difference though. I think you are strong enough to have your little talk with her now, isn't that right, Moonsinger?"
A suprised sound came from just outside the window as Moonsinger leaned in, her eyes wide in suprise.
"How... how did you know I was here?"
"I'd be a pretty bad mother if I couldn't tell the difference between my childrens magical aura, and you have never been able to hide from me, remember?"
A smile formed on Moonsingers face as she climbed inside through the open window, right on the bed where Celestia lay.
"Well... May I introduce you two. Celestia, this is my daughter Moonsinger. Moonsinger, this is your aunt Celestia."
Moonsinger cringed a little at the mentioning of Celestia being her aunt. She didn't like the idea too much that she was part of her family. But it was true, she needed to talk to this Pony. Not only, as her mother stated to clear up some things, but also to finally be able to give her a piece of her mind. But just as she thought this, and her anger built up, she was taken aback as Celestias forelegs reached out and hugged her. As she looked up at the Princesses face, she saw that she had tears in her eyes. As strong as the urge to break free from the hug was, she did not do so... This Pony who she had thought to be heartless, was hugging her while crying.
"I am sorry Moonsinger... You deserve an explanation. You deserve the full story. I don't think my sister has told you all of it."
That was when Moonsinger did break free, taking a few steps back from the pair of sisters.
"My mother told me enough. Don't you call her a liar!"
"Moonsinger... Please listen to her, she..."
But Celestia waved a hoof to silence her sister.
"I didn't call Luna anything. I don't make a secret out of it, that if it had been my decission alone, you wouldn't be standing here today. HOWEVER...."
Celestia raised voice a little since she saw that Moonsinger had been about to interrupt her.
"However, I do understand my sisters reasons for going against our diarchy and deciding this alone. I was horrorfied at what she told me about your fate back then, and even so I was against my sisters plans due to reasons I will explain to you now, I was glad when I heard of your disappearance. I thought she might have done something about it after all. My reasons to refuse back then, were that our country just didn't have the ressources to support her idea. We were already on the verge of bankrupcy as it was, not to mention we had no teachers to spare nor any workers. I know you ended up doing most of that yourself, with my sister helping you with her magic, but I thought that would be too much of a strain on my sister. I proposed a different plan to my sister. My idea it had been to, one by one, have a campaign started that would have tried to find a family for each and every one of you. That way you would have grown up like any other foal and have an education to match. After a few years, you could have done your share in rebuilding Equestria..."
"But something HAD to be done fast! With your plans it could have taken YEARS to get all of us out of the orphanages, but just how many of us would have died during that time? Did you ever stop to think about that?"
"I did.... I regret that it would have been the only thing I could have done, but there was just no way Equestria could have supported you back then. It was not my fault, nor anyponies. Luna and I tried our best to pull everything back together, but that alone took us almost a hundred years. In modern Equestria, there are no Orphanages anymore. I would like to say that this is due to no foal loosing their parents, or being abandoned, but that would be a lie. In fact it is due to our program that takes in foals like you were once, and educates them in a fulltime school. They live there until they are old enough to provide for themself, and we personally inspect all of them once a month to ensure a quality standard of living is maintained."
Moonsinger didn't like what she heard, and her anger receded further with each word that that Pony... that Celestia spoke. She wouldn't call her Princess any time soon, but atleast she had apologized and she seemed to mean it. Moonsinger wasn't going to forgive her that easily though. She wanted to see these schools for herself, she wanted to get a chance to see how the daylight Ponies had changed from what she remembered.... She wanted to see...
"Hoofington..."
"Excuse me?"
"My hometown. Does it still exist?"
"Ehm... Yes. In fact the Summer Sun celebration was scheduled to take place there this year."
"The summer sun.... what?"
"It is a holiday that celebrates the longest day in the year. My sister picks the town to host it at random every year."
"Mother... Is it true what she said? Does she take better care of lost foals then back then?"
Luna just nodded in agreement. That was when Moonsinger was lost in deep thought. Her friends had told her this for a long time, and even her mother had always told her that it was not good to hold a grudge before she had actually met Celestia.... Now that she had, she felt... different. She still hadn't forgiven her, but she felt that she could trust her at least. Her mother had never lied to her in her entire life, so it.... Before she knew it, she was enveloped in dark purple magic, that she recognized as her mother in an instant, and was levitated between the sisters on the bed. She didn't like being that close to Celestia.... at least not yet..... but her mother thought different appearently.
"It's time for us to sleep dear. Why don't you just stay with us today? I want you to spend some more time with Celestia, and get used to her presence here. And don't forget, she IS family."
Moonsinger frowned, but complied. Celestia, who looked a little worried, took a look at her sister who shook her head to indicate that there was nothing wrong with this. To proove her point she placed her right wing over Moonsinger, who immideatly snuggled up to Luna and relaxed.
Luna knew that her daughter was mighty stubborn, but when she came to know Celestia a little better, she might even call her "aunt" or "auntie". The thought alone made her smile as she layed her head down, turning her neck so her face was close to Moonsingers.
Celestia watched her sister and.... niece getting comfortable. She remembered the pose they took perfectly. It was the same one she had slept in with Luna, when she had been just a little foal hearself. Except, she didn't have wings back then so they usually just had shared a blanket. Suddenly she understood the rage she had felt in Moonsinger earlier. She had deprived her of this, the opportunity to sleep by her mothers side, for a thousand years by banishing her sister. But she had to do it, had she not? Celestia began to doubt her decisions from long ago, as she also rested her head on the bed. Unconciously she took the same position as Luna.... hoping to get to know her niece better eventually.
Chapter 6
Joy and torture
Twilight was led back into her cell by several changeling guards. Apperantly the lead ring around her horn, that kept her from gathering arcane energy, was not enough of a safety messure for them. The dark corridors through which they led her, were part of the dungeons. Before all this she had never been down here. There had just been no reason to be here. Equestria was such a peacefull place, that it rarely came to any imprisonment. As Princess Celestias student, she wouldn't have had anything to do with potential criminals. The thought of her mentor, gave Twilight another sting in her heart. Was the Princess alright, or was she kept in one of these cells that she was passing right now? Her head fell even more with these gloomy thoughts. Cadance and her had been captured, that much she knew for sure. So the invaders had managed to at least capture two fourth of Equestrias royalty. She just hoped that Luna and Celestia were alright. If they weren't, then there was no hope for her or the rest of the elements of harmony anymore. If those doors just had windows, then Twilight would have been able to peer in and confirm if somepony she knew was kept in them. On the other hoof, what good would that have been? They were all prisoners in the end and, as far as she knew, were only ever brought outside their cells one by one, always guarded by several changelings.
As the group reached Twilights cell, and she trotted in crestfallen, a cheerfull voice greeted her and Twilight looked up in shock. Her cell had been empty when she had left it, and now there was...
"Pinkie Pie???"
"Hi Twilight! I've been waiting for you, since these black ponies told me you'd need cheering up and that's what I do best! Cheer up my friends!"
More then the fact that they had actually put her into one cell with another element of harmony, was it the fact that Pinkie was so cheery even though she was chained to the wall, and her head held in place by a metal band. Usually there was nothing more uncomfortable for Pinkie Pie than to stay still, but the prospect of a down feeling friend that needed cheering up, seemingly blotted out all discomfort. Pinkie wouldn't be able to help her though, cause their captors chained her to the wall oposite Pinkie, with all fours spread. What she thought of as strange however, was that the changelings that had escorted here, placed a metal ring around her stomach, that looked verry strange indeed. It had carvings in it, that were surely magical. Even if she couldn't gather any magical energy in her horn, she could still feel it. The magical energy that eminated from it, was cold and felt more then dangerous. Twilight tried to resist as they closed the lock on it, but her hooves had already been bound, so she could do nothing more then shake her hips a bit, to make it harder for them. This however, seemed to excite one of them, since he couldn't take his eyes off her plot. Noticing this, Twilight ceased her struggling, not wanting to recieve the same treatment as Cadance earlier.
Pinkie was shouting furiously, while the changelings bound up her friend, which was very out of character for her. She couldn't bare to see one of her friends forced into something that was obviously no fun for her, but she couldn't stop them. When their captors finally left them alone, Pinkie returned to her cheerful behavior, thinking she'd better be strong for her friend bound on the opposite side of the room. She didn't like the expression of defeat on Twilights face, so she decided to do her best to turn that sad frown, upside down.
"So Twilight, wanna play I spy? I'd reeeeaaaallllly like to play pin the tail on the Pony, but I can't move, so that would be impossible, so I thought we should better play something that doesn't need so much moving, and so I thought it would be a good idea to play this instead, cause we only need to move our eyes for this and...."
Twilight listend to her Pink friends ramblings about games, sighing. She wanted to think about things. There were so many things she needed to think about. Especially the fate of her brother and the other two princesses. A plan to escape also would be a great subject for a theory. ANYTHING but Pinkies illogical ramblings when they where in a situation where they needed to stay focused.
"Pinkie?"
But Pinkie continued to state reasons why they should play a game, or tell jokes instead of listening to Twilight.
"PINKIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"""
"Oh and... Yes Twilight? What's up?"
"This is not the time to play games! We need to get out of here somehow."
"Oooohhhh! Yeah I'd really like to go back to Ponyville, this place is no fun at all!"
"That's soooo not what I ment but, ok I can work with that... So any intuition from that "Pinkie sense" of yours, or any idea how to get out of these chains?"
"My Pinkie sense is not for escaping really scary no fun dungeons, duh! But getting out of the chains, you mean like this?"
With that, Pinkie Pie started to wiggle her fore and hidelegs out of the bindings that held her up on the wall, leaving Twilight stunned. She had always known Pinkie was.... odd to say the least, but this was too much.
"Pinkie, you could have escaped those all along, and you still didn't?"
"Well duh! If I had done this before, I would have missed you being brough in here."
Twilights muzzle dropped... Shaking her head, she adressed Pinkie again.
"Pinkie, get me out of them as well if you can!"
"Okie dokie loki!"
The pink party pony approached Twilights chains and stomped on her bindings a few times, opening them in the progress. As Twilight finally stood on all four legs again, she sighed in relief. The only thing she was unable to remove, were her silencer, and the magical band around her midrift. Both objects were held in place by a spell, and without being able to use her own magic, she would have to find another spellcaster to do it for her, but at least she could move freely again. Even Pinkies attempty to make her smile, where not so annoying now. Sure their captors would punish them for breaking out of their chains, but she planned to make them pay for the invasion and Cadances treatment earlier. Pinkie had just told an especially funny joke, and Twilight broke out in a fit of laughter despite of herself, suddenly all the laughter left her and she stumbled to the ground, clutching her side. A sharp pain ran through her, as if she had been stabbed, and sure enough, as she looked down on herself, a trickle of blood ran down from under the magical band around her.
Pinkie was worried when Twilight collapsed on her side, clutching the place blood was now trickling down her body. Pinkie examined the place that was bleeding, having some experience with wounds ever since she had started to look after the cakes babies. She pressed down Twilights flesh a bit to take a look under the metal band around her friends body, and there was a small, not too long but appearently very sharp, blade that dug into Twilights body.
"Pinkie, be careful! It hurts!"
"Oh I'm so sorry Twilight!"
Pinkie let go of Twilight again. Managing a little smile, Twilight tried to get up her hooves again, but once again got struck by a sharp pain, and toppled to the floor once again. This one was on the exact opposite side, from where the first one had been. Right now it was painful for her just to breathe. The wounds didn't feel too deep or wide, but they were definitly bleeding, and whatever stung her did not pull back again, so each breath made her flesh rub against the the ... blades?
Pinkie was now even more worried about her friend. Just as she had tried to get up, another blade seemed to have struck her. What was this awefull thing the changelings had wrapped around her friend? As she sat there, trying to comfort the heavily breathing Twilight, a horrible thought came into her mind.
"Twilight, I know this is unusual for me to say, and I reeeeaaaaallllyyyyy hate to say it, but don't smile!"
"Why shouldn't I Pinkie? It hurts bad, but it surely has...."
But then she understood what Pinkie was saying. Why hadn't she noticed this? Every time she showed any kind of happiness, she was stabbed with a .... magical blade. She decided on that term since she herself could not see what had wounded her. Most likely they were enchanted to make the place they hit, more sensitive. She knew of those spells, but using them for something like this, seemed more then evil. Still, she had to test her theory. It could just be that they stabbed her at random intervals. Taking in a deep breath, she mustered a smile and immideatly felt the pain again, stabbing her back this time.
Pinkie didn't know what to do. Twilight was hurt in three different places and she couldn't even help her friend, by treating the wounds. The worst thing though, was that her friend being hurt, seemed to be HER fault. She had made Twilight smile and laugh, and that horrible thing seemingly reacted to that, and then hurt her friend. As much as she wanted to make Twilight smile, that would only result in her getting hurt even more, and that was nowhere on her list of fun things to do. She came to the conclusion that, even if Twilight didn't smile, that thing could also be set off by her laughter or joy. It was no good. Pinkie just couldn' think of anything to do. Twilight, now bleeding from three shallow wounds that made it painfull for her to breathe, lay on the floor, and the only thing Pinkie could think of, was placing Twilights head on her lap and stroking her mane with a hoof. Fun would hurt her friend, so it was for the best.... not to have fun....
Soon Twilights breathing became more relaxed, and Pinkie noticed that her friend had gone to sleep. She had not protested once when she had treated her like one of the cakes foals, that was crying, but had accepted the little relief that she could provide. Inside Pinkie welled up a feeling that she had never felt before. She had felt anger and even rage before, when her friends had avoided her only so she wouldn't notice them prepare a party for her. But this, was something different. This was.....
"Hatred... I hate them... They hurt my friend!"
Pinkie muttered to herself and, she hadn't even finished her sentence yet, her usually fluffy mane deflated, her expression becoming rather grim. She would get them for this. They had hurt Twilight and used her as a tool to do so! Pinkie cried as she saw it in her inner eye. They must be laughing their heads off now that she, the party thrower extraordinaire, hurt her friend with the thing she did best.... Making Ponies smile. A smile snuck it's way onto her face when she imagined how she would make them pay for this. How good it would feel to show them, just how bad an idea it was.... to get on the bad side of Pinkamina Diana Pie.....
Chapter 7
Information and rumors
Celestia and Luna stood in front of six Ponies, alongside Moonsinger who had gathered the local lawenforcers. Luna knew all of them. There was Flametail, with his fire red mane and tail, which contrasted with his light green coat. She remembered that he always had been the most sensitive among all her children. Even she had set him off sometimes, with just a few words that she didn't mean like he understood them. Next to him, stood his biological brother, Starfire. The twins shared the same colorations, but couldn't have been more different. While Flametail, in his earlier years, could have been called a crybaby, so was Starfire the enthusiast who did everything to proove ponies wrong, who tried to pick on him for something. Instead of hiding somewhere in the garden, he would confront them head on.
"I am pleased all of you answered my summons."
Luna adressed her children. Their eyes sparkling with joy, at the prospect that they had pleased their mother. All were smiling, except Starfire. His eyes DID have the same expression as the others, but his face wore an annoyed frown. Obviously he could have taken it as an insult, if any of his brothers or sisters had NOT come here immideatly, once their mother called.
Celestia stepped forward, making the six Ponies loose the joyfull sparkle in their eyes, but no one argued. They knew who this Pony was, and that, due to their mothers teachings, they owed her a certain amount of respect.
"I am pleased to meet you all. I'm Celestia, and I would like to ask for your assistance in reclaiming the kingdom, your mother and I rule."
The group was dumbstruck as they heard her introduce herself without her title. It was only then, that they all noticed that she did not wear her crown. She was not asking them as a Princess, who could demand that her will be fullfilled, but she came to them on even ground. She adressed them just as one Pony to another. This gesture alone, let her rise in everyponys oppinion. They wouldn't take any orders from her, but this was the first step to better relations between Celestia and her sisters children.
All of them looked at Luna, as if asking what to say to this, or if she wanted them to reply positively. But Luna just shook her head.
"You have to decide this one for yourself, my children. Do you WANT to help Celestia, or do you want to turn her down, so she has to try find another way to drive the changelings out?"
Luna saw that nopony was about to speak up. They never had met Celestia before, and it surely was quite rare in the garden to meet a new Pony. Sighing she decided to let them vote instead. Back in the day, she had done that sometimes when her children had problems with a decission.
"Ok... Who of you wants to turn down Celestia?"
Three hooves rose into the air. This would be a tie Luna thought, but Moonsinger took things over from there.
"And who wants to help her drive these insects out from our former homeland?"
Again three hooves rose, or so Luna thought atleast, before she looked over to her daughter who had raised her hoof in agreement to the subject, a wide smile on her face. True, they had quite the way to go, Celestia and Moonsinger, but having breakfast together and having the chance to talk in great lenghth afterwards, had softend her daughter up a bit.
"Vote passed. Ok then you six, get lost. Get to the other branches and tell them to repeat the vote. Those who vote in favor of this, are to rally here in Gemini. Also, Starfire, stop by Moonlight farm and let them know that we will need way more supplies then usual."
Moonsinger ordered her squad, who was used to her sometimes rough tone. This didn't stop Flex, a blue earthpony mare, to ask a question.
"So what of those who do NOT agree with helping her? What are we to tell them?"
"Tell them that I am verry disappointed with them!"
Luna told Flex, before the earthpony flinched and then galloped off. The idea of disappointing Luna was obviously too much to bear for her. The other five, three Pegasi and two Unicorns, got to the their task. The Pegasi flying off, the Unicorns teleporting away.
"So, I think this went pretty well, don't you think so Celestia?", frowned Moonsinger, trying to hide her irritation.
"Well... They didn't seem to like me to much..."
"Can you blame them? You banished me to the moon, and it took me a thousand years to break the elements spell that bound me. What would you think of a Pony who took away our mother from us?"
"Yeah... you are propably right..."
"So "auntie", what do you plan to do now? I think most of the others will vote in favor of helping you, since it's also the kingdom our dear mother rules"
Moonsinger actually had started to call Celestia that shortly after breakfast, teasing her with her age, even so she herself was not that much younger then the Princess of the sun. Just as she had hoped, Celestia frowned a bit being adressed like that, even so she had told Moonsinger not to.
"Well.... I suppose we need somepony to leave the barrier and gather some information on the situation in Equestria. We must know what we are up against, not to mention to find out how bad it is."
"Oh I think there is somepony who actually can help you with that...."auntie". You know there are Ponies born here, but not all stay here forever. Some leave the barrier to live in "your" Equestria. They only return here once a month or so to replenish their spark of our mothers magic. Cause as you already know, without contact for too long, we die."
Moonsinger stated, while the trio left the town square. But she did not lead the sisters to the Inn in which they had stayed during the day, but to a small house at the edge of town. It looked like rarely anypony lived there. The garden was wild and the house was in a state, that demanded a reconstruction rather then a renovation.
"Moonsinger... So who lives here?"
"Not to worry mother. This house is used by several Ponies. Usually those born here in Gemini but decided to leave the barrier. Sometimes up to twenty Ponies share it, but mostly it's just two or three coming at once."
"But why didn't you keep it in a better shape? I surely taught you better when it comes to family."
At this Moonsinger frowned once again.
"We usually wouldn't have let them leave, but we came to.... an agreement. Aslong as they are not a strain on our society, they are free to come and leave as they please. We even installed a Portal in each of these safe houses that teleports them directly to Ponyville, which is the closest settlement to our forest. All we ask for in return, is that they take care of their houses by themself, or atleast ASK for our help. The problem is, that most of them have cut ties with us and don't ask in the first place so..."
But Moonsinger was interrupted, when a white Unicorn with blue mane and violet sunglasses opend the door, glaring at the group.
"Would you stop talking already? If you want something, then just knock, but don't stand out there talking about us as if we aren't here!"
Celestia was in utter shock, and so was the Unicorn when she recognized the two Princesses that accompanied Moonsinger.
As she realized to whom she had just lashed out, she bowed and muttered an appology.
"VINYL SCRATCH?"
"Yeah I know what my name is.... So your highness, what brings you to my humble dwelling?"
Vinyl sat on her haunches, obviously curious that the Princess of the sun would be in the garden of shadows, but also annoyed at the nightly intrusion, resulting in her tone being more of a taunt.
"Well... ehm ah...."
But Celestia was too shocked to see the Pony whom she had hired to provide the music at the Canterlot wedding, coming from a house that was supposed to house the Ponies who wanted to replenish their magical spark.
"Ehm... Vinyl? I think you broke her."
This statement from Moonsinger, made Vinyl return to her usual self and break out in loud laughter, as a grey Earthpony mare with black mane and a pink bowtie, stepped up behind her.
"What is all that ruccus about Vinyl? It's late, I want to get some rest."
But seeing the Cellist she had hired for the Grand galloping gala, was too much for Celestia and she fainted.
"Oh boy... This will certainly be interesting."
Vinyl said, walking back into the house, making Octavia give way while Luna levitated her sister inside. In the living room, she put her down onto an ancient looking sofa, that surely had seen better times.
"So Moonie, what brings you here tonight? Usually you just come by when I have my music too loud or when you....."
"That is totally not what I am here for Vinyl! We are here to see if you know something about how the situation in Equestria is. And who is THAT?"
Moonsinger aimed a hoof at Octavia who was trying to clean up the living room a bit, since she seemed to be emberassed haveing the princesses in this enviourment. Vinyl broke out in another fit of laughter, while Luna settled herself on the ground next to the sofa, a little worried about her injured sister.
"That is Octavia, my marefriend! I am pretty sure I told you about her before.... And there is nothing to be emberessed about that Bright Light bores you at times."
Vinyl winked meaningfull at Moonsinger, who blushed a bit. She surely didn't want her mother to hear this.
"So.... You want to know how the situation was shortly before Octi and I fled here...."
Vinyl became serious, waving a hoof to Octavia to sit down next to her. As she did so, Moonsinger nodded.
"The situation was.... bad, and I mean real bad... The changelings don't care if they hurt anypony. The citizens of Ponyville, and especially Big Mac, from the Apple family, fought back with great efford when the attack started. But even so they could only stall the result of the battle. Had they just surrenderd, many would still be alive, but I can understand why they didn't. Octavia and I, joined the frey at the verry beginning and got captured. Before they could Hornlock me however, I teleported us to the small cave near the forest which contains the portal that brought us here. After we passed through, I destroyed it. The others from Ponyville wouldn't have made it, and I couldn't save them. Before we managed to escape however, I overheard the guards. They were talking about the elements of harmony being captured by Chrysalis herself. What their fate might be, I do not know, but yesterday they still were alive. All I can tell you is, that all of Equestria has been overrun simultaniously. It must have taken an incredible amount of planning to have all of them attack at exactly the same time... I think they planned this ever since they failed to take over Canterlot the last time."
Vinyl Scratch took off her sunglasses, to whipe away some tears that had begon to trickle down her face halfway through her report. She had seen close friends of herself die in the battle for Ponyville. Berry Punch, Colgate.... Derpy Hooves.... All of them had fought to defend their home, but had been disposed of by the more experienced Changelings. She hated herself for having only saved Octavia, the Pony she loved so much. There had been so many others who had been captured rather then killed, but she didn't even try to save any of them.
Moonsinger listend to the story of a swift but effective attack made by the changelings. The verry idea frightend her. They had tried to get into the garden many times, but it always had been straight forward attacks. The one described by her mother and Vinyl just didn't seem anywhere near the usual changeling tactics she knew. Changelings attacking with an actual plan? That could be so damn dangerous, even for the garden. Chysalis knew of this place, so it was just logical that she would attempt to take this place next. Steps had to be taken. The situation was more dire then she had estimated. Appereantly the Changeling Queen had learned from past mistakes... This could proove a disaster. What if Chrysalis absorbed enough feelings to actually BREAK the barrier? She had tried that before but her power hadn't been enough at the time. If she suceeded, in her eyes, she would gain a new feeding ground for her subjects. The truth however was more grim. If Chrysalis brought it down, then all of them would die in only a few weeks time. The spark inside them would just wither away. Had this started out as a matter of recapturing Equestria, so it had now turned into a matter of protecting the verry existence of the garden.....
Chapter 8
Victory and defeat
It had been several nights since Moonsinger had sent out word of their mothers return,and the request made by her sister. Most of the lawenforcement branches from all over the garden had voted in favor of the request, some however did not want to involve themself with the matters of the daylight Ponies. Moonsinger sat in her office in the town hall of Gemini, reading the reports that had come in shortly before sundown. Out of fourty settlements, thirtysix had voted in favor. The remaining four, she would have to split up and make them patrol the barrier in shifts. After all, if the changelings chose to come here, it was not a good idea to leave the garden defenseless. She sighed and put a hoof up to her forehead. For centuries this place had never had to prepare for war. She just didn't know what to do anymore. She turned her attention to one of the other piles of reports on her desk. These were from storeowners and Innkeepers that were complaining about her lawenforcers acting out of line, or ruining business for them, since they wanted a place to sleep and supplies without paying for them.
Of course she knew that these Ponies had to make a living, but they needed the supplies. Gemini was to be the launching point for their counter invasion, but she just hadn't thought about the supply situation when she had made that decission. Her mother and Celestia had warned her, and told her to choose a bigger town, but she had refused. At the time it had seemed like such a good idea to choose the town closest to the barrier.... But now? Gemini had barely a thousand citizens at the best of times, and about a hundred tourists who wanted to visit the gardens very first settlement... The problem she had to deal with now was, that about two thousand lawenforcers were already here, and another nine thousand were on their way....
She threw the reports into the air, letting a scream of frustration escape her mouth. There was just no damn way Gemini could support that many Ponies! All day she had tried to calculate and delegate tasks and supplies, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't find a way for this town to handle the strain....
That moment, there was a knock at the door. Moonsinger waved a hoof and shouted to leave her alone, but the door opend anyway. As she rose her head, which she had slammed into the desk when throwing the reports into the air, she saw the dark blue coat of her mother.
"You seem to have a problem. Why won't you let me and Celestia help?"
"The only problem IS Celestia... Had she not asked us to do this, I wouldn't be drowning in reports!"
"I asked you to do that as well."
Luna clarified. Moonsinger stared at her mother, her anger slowly washing away, like it always did in the presence of her beloved mother.
"You're right.... But we just don't have the place here to provide a place to stay for THAT many Ponies. What is worse, there are still Ponies from outside the barrier coming in. I have several reports here from Patrols outside the barrier who have found some Ponies that tried to hide in the forest. To top it all off, I COULD make the other settlements in the vicinity provide food, but we still have no place for them to sleep."
"Is that all? Celestia and I saw something like that coming, that's why I am here."
Luna sat down next to her daughter, unrolling a map of the garden, that she had brought with her.
"You make the surrounding town deliver supplies here."
She tapped her hoof on the icon that stood for Gemini.
"And Celestia and I will expand some of the houses with the same magic I used for the garden. More accuratly, we will put a shrinking spell upon the inns, so one room will be able to provide housing for hundreds of Ponies."
Moonsingers mouth dropped wide open, her eyes wide as saucers. She hadn't thought of that. Of course! The garden itself used that kind of magic to expand a clearing of only a few hundred hoofs in radius. Using it on the Inns...
"That's GENIUS!"
"Not really. We wanted to propose that idea to you the first time we asked to help you, but you wouldn't even listen to us. Ever since then you havn't come home a single time, but locked yourself away here. By the way, I have been outside the barrier today. I think tonight would be a good night for a counter attack."
"But not even half our forces are here. We are still not organized enough...."
But Luna put a hoof on her muzzle, stopping her from protesting any further.
"I have seen how well you children can fight. I'm asking you to stay behind, so don't even TRY asking to come along. I need you here, keeping an eye on Celestia. She is getting restless, and had it not been for her, we would have started our attack two nights ago when only a little over a hundred Ponies had arrived here. Also she is not used to being ripped of her status as a princess. She may not show it, but it annoys her greatly."
"Is THAT the reason you want to act rashly?"
Moonsinger had shoved aside her mothers hoof and started protesting again.
"No. I have been out of the forest during the day, and spied on Ponyville personally. Tonight there is an execution planned there. Some of the Ponies who are immune to their mindcontrol are to be executed, and I just can't let that happen. With the spectacle of this event, most of the changelings stationed there will be in the town square. Not only that, but there aren't as many as I had anticipated. When I walked among them, using a transformation spell, I found out that there are only a little over a hundred changelings there. With our current strength, we can overwhelm them before they know what hit them. Even more so, we will have an additional base of operations, that can serve to house our forces and supply us with food."
"But we can't stay in Ponyville. It would weaken and ultimately kill us!"
Luna did not grace her daughter with an answer this time. Once again, she bend her neck and took something out of her saddlebags. Shortly after, she pulled out a small medicine bottle that contained several glowing orbs.
"What are those?"
"I've been very busy over the last few day's Moonsinger. These are Mana Chrystal's, infused with my magic. I have stored several such bottles back in my quarters on the upper floor. They will replenish your sparks energy, as if you had stayed a few days inside the barrier. They are no subsitude for the barrier, but they can extend the time you can stay outside."
Moonsinger took the small bottle and there was no doubt that there was magical energy radiating from the orbs.
"But how to admister them? Is it enough to just carry them around with us?"
"Well... you will have to swallow them... But that is also a reason why I suggest not to rely on them too much... They might cause some mild problems with your digestion."
"Well, better then nothing I guess. I am still not satisfied that you want to attack when we are barely ready, but it's as it has always been."
"And what wold that be?"
"If you ask something of us, it will be done."
Luna chuckled.
"Ok then. I will take five hundred lawenforcers and head out as soon as I can. Don't tell Celestia. If she knew, there is no way we could stop her from coming along, and since she is injured, that wouldn't be a good idea."
Moonsinger nodded and hugged her mothers neck before Luna turned around and left her office again. Finally she had a means to provide housing to that many Ponies.... With her most important concern laid to rest, she began making arrangements to have food from other cities transfered here.
Two ours later, at the edge of Everfree forest
Luna stood in the shadow of a tree near the edge of the forest. The five hundred Ponies she had rallied for this attack were hiding in the shadows as well. All of them had been excited to leave the barrier with their mother, but not so much about fighting. Most of the ones she had taken with her, were Earthponies and Pegasi. That was not only to the idea that the magical spark within them would wither away faster if they used magic, but also there were not that many Unicorns among the lawenforcers. Most of her children who were Unicorns, were working in peaceful buisness Moonsinger had told her that the other night. Luna couldn't blame them. Pegasi and Earthponies were more sturdy, while a single swipe from a Timberwolf was enough to break most of the bones in a Unicorns body. She was uneasy with the idea of a fight, even more so to lead her children into battle. She had never wanted to have them fight, but there was just no helping it.
For a while now Luna was observing the Town Square, where a line of several Ponies had gathered. There were only about twenty of them, but they were surrounded by about eighty Changelings. The other twelve were patroling the perimeter and the streets of Ponyville. Obviously they didn't think anypony would atteck them here. Luna took a deep breath before adressing her children through the spark of her magic that resided in all of them. Due to that, she was able to speak directly to their minds, if they were close enough.
"There are six ways to the Townsquare. Each of them is patrolled by a pair of Changelings. We have twelve Unicorns with us. I want all of you to hold your hooves on the ground. Circle around the town, and divide up into groups. Make sure that every group has two Unicorns. When you encounter the Changelings, leave them to them. Use silencing spells to keep them from raising the alarm, and then take them out. All others are to check the houses on the way, to see if there are Changelings in hiding and if the Ponies inside are ok. then everypony will rally at the townsquare and take out the remaining Changelings. After that is done, I will raise a barrier to keep them out of this settlement. If I can't do that for some reason, that task falls upon you Unicorns. Don't let anything keep you from raising the barrier. The safety of Ponyvilles citizens is the TOP priority here."
When she had finished, she turned around to look at her children. All of those she could see were nodding, and already started to move out. She herself headed to Sweet Apple Acres, the local applefarm. The farm was a little way out of town, and she just wanted to make sure that there were no Changelings hiding there. Also it would be a great place to cast that little spell she had learned, after the Changelings attack on Canterlot....
Half an hour later
Flametail and his group had taken out the two Changelings patrouling their part of town. The houses they had inspected, had also been ok. There were mind controlled Ponies inside, peacefully sleeping in their beds. Only a few of them had been minorly injured, and so he had left two of the Earthponies in his group behind to take care of those once they woke up. Now they were hiding in the alleyways between the houses that were closest to the townsquare. In the middle was a crowd of Changelings, surrounding several Ponies that were waiting for their execution by beheading. Where in the hay was their mother? He couldn't sense her presence in his vicinity, and he would be even more uneasy to attack them without her present. She would, most likely, be able to take care of them all by herself, so her absence was unnerving. That was when, due to a loud scream, his attention was drawn to a red Earthpony stallion with half a green apple as a cutie mark. He was thrashing against his restrains, trying to buck at the Changelings that held the ropes on his neck and hooves. They had started the execution, and he seemed to be the first one... Flametail couldn't wait any longer. They had to act now, or that stallion would die, before they could.
Big Mac was fighting against those who kept him. For some reason the strange magic they had used on Applebloom and Granny Smith, had not worked on him. He had heard a whisper in the back of his mind, that tried to push him into obidience, but he didn't listen to it. There were some other Ponies who seemed to be immune as well, but their fate seemed sealed. Even so he tried to resist, the Changelings pulling him towards a block that had been placed on a small stage. Next to it stood a Changeling with an ancient Battleaxe on the ground next to him. It looked like it was from the Canterlot royal museum, but that was the least of his worries. Big Mac threw all of his weight against the ropes that pulled him forward, but it still wasn't enough. He would die. He would die a meaningless death, and would never see Applejack again, whom he learned thanks to the guards was held in the Canterlot dungeons. Finally the Changelings had suceeded in pulling him all the way to the block, now pulling his head down, securing him in place. Big Mac glared at the Changeling holding the Axe in his magic now, raising it into the air with a cruel smile on his face. Just before he could bring it down on his neck however, the changeling was knocked into the side of the town hall by a red flash of magic. Everything that followed, happend so fast, that Big Mac would never be quite sure, which order it had actually happened in.
Frostmane saw the signal that Flametail gave with his glowing eyes, and threw a punch of telekenetic Energy towards the Changeling executioner, just before she and her group charged into the frey. From all sides, the children of the night were now charging into the townsquare, it was like her spell had been a shot from a starting pistol. The Pegasi in each group, obviously eager to be airborn once again, raised up and charged down into the group of Changelings. They picked up their suprised foes, and flew back up, before diving back down and releasing them only inches before they crashed into the ground. That short time to recover from such a fall, was not enough for the Changelings to safe their lives. Frostmane herself, made good on her namesake. Her mane, quite simliar to the one her mother had when she had been Nightmare Moon, swiped away six of the enemies at a time, while her Earthpony guard kept others from flanking her. They were a well trained team, and had already repelled several Changeling attacks on the garden in the past. Frostmane would NOT let a single one of them escape. Each and every one of those who touched her magical mane, froze to a lump of ice if she wanted them to. Her magical skills were not that great though. Moonsinger and others had always been stronger then her, but her mane was what made her unique. Imbued with her own magic it lashed out at the Changelings, while the other Unicorns used Telekenisis to throw them against buildings, or the ground. The Earthponies bucked at these insects with all their might, and some were hit so hard that their necks bent into odd angles and their skulls caved in. What soon became obvious to Frostmane, and any other, was that the fight was dragging on longer then it should have. It should only last seconds, but now it had already been almost ten minutes! They had come here with an advantage in numbers and still, as Frostmane looked around, she could see that two of their fronts were being pushed back. The dead or injured bodies of her brothers and sisters, lining the way of these fronts retreat.
She levitated herself into the air, and soon saw what was causing the battle to drag on. The double doors to the townhall were standing open, and hundrets of Changelings were storming out of it like a river of black ink. They must have used the underground archives, which stretched out under all of Ponyville, as makeshift barracks. It then struck her. They HAD anticipated such an attack. This was a damn trap, and their mother was nowhere to be seen. For the first time, since she had joined the lawenforcers three hundred years ago, Frostmane was afraid for her life. A look into the night sky revealed that even the Pegasi had their fair share of fighting up there. A quick estamination of how many Changelings were already pushing them back, revealed that they were outnumbered almost ten to one. If that fight dragged on any longer, if there came any more Changelings, they would NOT get out of here alive.
A few minutes before at Sweet Apple Acres
Luna had inspected the farm buildings, and the only ones she had found, had been a yellow Earthpony filly with red mane, that had been chained to her bed. Luna could only imagine what horrors that filly had gone through, as she removed the chains with her magic, without waking the sleeping filly.She knew that there should be an elderly Earthpony mare here, but she could not find her anywhere, so she prepared to cast a spell that would make Changelings unable to change their form for a while. As she steped out of the main building of the farm, she felt flashes of her magic in the towns center. Quickly it became clear, that the fight had started without her. But.... there was something that made her dismiss the spell she had wanted to cast. She could feel the sparks of her children who where fighting there vanish. That could only mean, that they died. There had been the possibility of some injuries or even some deaths, but they were vanishing in such an alarming rate, that Luna spread her wings and threw all caution aside when she raced off to Ponyville.
As Luna arrived, she saw the impossible. Thousands of Changelings, not even attempting to fool her children with their powers, fighting her children all over town. She should have known... This opportunity had been WAY to good to be true... Chrysalis had set a trap, and she had stepped right into it. With a scream of rage and desperation Luna threw herself into the battle, lashing out with her magic left and right, killing Changelings as she went.
Flametail stood back to back with Frostmane on an intersection near the edge of town. Their groups had, only moments before, joined in retreat. As much as it pained both of them to having to disappoint their mother, there was no use in fighting a loosing battle, and their mother wouldn't want them to do so either. He noticed Frostmane breathing heavily behind him. The strain on her magic was already showing. He would want to fly her out of here, but there was no way he could. one of his wings had been broken, when several Changelings had knocked him out of the sky. He wasn't in great shape himself either. The exertion of this overdrawn fight was more then he had anticipated. Just when he thought that it was the end, he saw a streak of darkblue magic envelop all the changelings surrounding him and his group. He had just enough time to shield his eyes with a hoof, before his face was splattered with Changeling blood. As he looked up, he saw their mother, already flying off into the direction he had come from. He knew she was heading into the thick of the fighting.
Luna raced through the streets of Ponyville without landing. Every group of Changelings she encountered, she enveloped in her Telekenisis, either crushing them, or ripping them apart. It still wasn't enough. She had to concentrate so hard, just to ignore the corpses of Ponies that she found all over the place. It had been her children, and each and every one of those corpses, made her heart ache. She had underestimated Chrysalis, and THAT was why her children were dying all over town. The stream of changelings, that had come from the underground archive had stopped. That was at least something she could be reliefed about, but the continous use of her magic, tired Luna slowly. There were so many of them, that she sometimes had to crush a hundred of them at a time, which was difficult, considering that they fought back with their own magic.
She could only feel a little under two hundred of her children around town, by the time she finished what she believed to be the last of the Changelings. Back in the townsquare, dizzy from the overuse of magic, she allowed herself to collapse to the ground. The extensive amount of violence she had just used, also was turning her stomach, and she was fighting to keep her last meal where it belonged. Suddenly, she felt herself being enveloped in magic. Magic that felt very cold and dangerous. As she opend her eyes, she noticed five changelings encircling her. All their horns were aglow. Luna tried to fight back with her own magic, but the earlier fight had strained her to much, and as she called upon her magic, everthing began to spin in front of her eyes. Before she fainted and was carried off by the Changelings, she saw Frostmane limping into the townsquare.
Frostmane had decided to go and check if their mother was okay, but was not prepared to see what she did. Her light blue coat was dirty with a mixture of her own, her brothers and sisters and Changeling blood. Her white mane hung limply around her neck, as she limped into the townsquare. Her broken right foreleg was hindering her movement considerably, and her almost depleted magic was no help either. She wanted to help her mother as she saw five changelings cast an imprisonment spell on her and fly off. However, she was unable to do so.... Her mane didn't have the range to reach out to them, and her magic was almost completly gone.... Even if it hadn't been, she didn't know a counterspell for this....All she could do, was scream as her mother was taken prisoner, right in front of her eyes.....
Chapter 9
Bloody Moon
Luna woke up due to a sharp pain in her left wing and neck. When she opened her eyes, she was in a square, brightly lit room. the walls were grey with runes carved into them ,and she knew where she was in an instant. How had Chrysalis found this place? A thousand years ago, when she had let her jealousy get the better of her, she had built it herself to keep Celestia imprisoned. The room was in the deepest part of the old Chrystal mines beneath Canterlot castle... The walls were made of dampening Chrystal, so not even her older sister would be able to escape it.
Luna sat on her haunches, inspecting her horn with one hoof. There was no dampening device attached to it, but that wouldn't matter. She wouldn't be able to teleport out of here, or break the walls with her magic. That was the whole idea of this room, when she had built it in the past. If she had just banished Celestia to the sun, like she had banished her to the moon, she might eventually break out one day since the mana of their celestial bodies strengthend them. But imprisoning her underground would weaken her considerably over time, without taking her immortality.
What was it that Chrysalis had brought her here for? Had the queen of the Changelings really become THAT much smarter? In the past she would just have put a dampener on her, and go on with her daily buisness. But those would only work partially on her, since she was not just some ordinary Unicorn, but an almost fully grown Allicorn. Did she know that they wouldn't work, or had she just assumed it? The uncertainty was unnerving. What had happend to the rest of her children, after she got captured? Did they follow her orders and put up a barrier; or did they retreat to the garden?
The thought of her children brought tears to Lunas eyes. Only now did she remember her flight through Ponyville that night. All over the place there had been screaming Ponies, who had been gravely injured, and even worse for her, ponies laying absolutly still in their own blood. The unseeing eyes of those Ponies seemed to blame her for their deaths. And wasn't it her fault? She had underestimated Chrysalis, SHE had led them into battle, SHE had left the group to attend something that MIGHT be important, and it was SHE who was not there when her children were slaughtered by an overwhelming Changeling force. Sure, some had survived, but over half of those she had brought with her, who had stood loyal to her, not willing to disappoint her, had died for her cause. They had died to do her a favor, and she hadn't been there to help them....
These thoughts made her eyes water even more. Had she been with them the entire time, like ANY responsible mother would have been, then she could have avoided all of it. She wouldn't even have been captured. Her children wouldn't have let them.... Let them? She remembered seeing Frostmane coming into the townsquare shortly before she was carried away. Why hadn't she helped her? She remembered Frostmane perfectly. One of her forelegs was bend in an odd angle, and she looked like she had been in a bad shape, but why the hay didn't she even try?
Luna shook her head. Ofcourse Frostmane would have helped her, if she had been able to. The long battle must have been an enormous strain on her. There was nothing that she could have done. Or was there? Luna began to wonder. She had, for the very first time since she founded the garden, let her children down. Was this their revenge for that? NO! She shouldn't think like this. What was wrong with her? Why was she thinking all of this?
Luna began to shake her head violently, as her thoughts wandered back to the last conversation with Celestia.
"But we have to act! Every day we don't, more of my little Ponies will suffer and die!"
"You are forgetting that they are MY subjects aswell, Celestia!"
"Well, you seemingly care more about the safety of your refuge, then the safety of your subjects."
"Listen to what you are saying big sis! Of course I care for OUR subjects, but this is not the time to act yet! We are barely prepared and would only get ourselfs killed if we attacked now."
"I heard a report from Captain Goldshield. She said that Moonsinger claims to be able to take out fifty Changelins alone. If they are THAT strong, then the one hundred thirteen that have already arrived, would be more then eough."
"YES Celestia, Moonsinger IS that strong, but not ALL of my children are! She is, like Twilight Sparkle is to you, my personal student. She knows, and can perform magic that most Unicorns in the garden don't even know exist! That is due to her almost always being close to me in the past, which made her spark stronger then the others."
"But still! We need to at least send out teams to scout out the area. Surely you can't object to that!"
"Oh yes I can! How do you think they will be able to get past Ponyville? There is no way they would be able to sneak around it, and it is the only way to the other settlements. Going through the forest itself would take to long and weaken their sparks before they even got there. IF we want to do something, it has to be recapturing Ponyville first!"
"It's settled then, I will take the ones that are already here, and go do just that."
"NO!"
Luna had sighed at that part. She had been tired of Celestia wanting to press her to act. She knew that she was right. They had to act sooner or later, but Celestia just wasn't herself now. The worry about her subjects and the elements of harmony, clouded her judgment. However, if she did not do something soon, Celestia might try to go out there alone.....
Luna cried even more now. These fresh tears being not only for her fallen children, but also tears of rage at Celestias impatience. That's right! It was all HER fault! Celestia had pressed her to attack. Celestia had not stopped nagging her about how much HER little Ponies must be suffer under Chrysalis.... Luna once again shook her head and tried to clear her mind. Something was not right here. Sure it was partly Celestias fault, but mostly hers for having fallen for Chrysalis trap...
Luna tried to calm down, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't focus her thoughts. With a fearsome battlecry, she charged at the wall to her right, turned around and bucked at it with all her might. She HAD to let out some of her rage, or she would go insane, that much she knew, and the room was the only thing she could focus on, as she continued to buck at the wall. The entire room shoock under the might of her hooves. It felt good, even so it did not make a single dent into the Chrystal, but it felt so good to vent some of her anger!
Chrysalis watched the scene going on in the little prison she had discovered the day before, through a small window in the ceiling of the room. She was actually knocked off her hooves, when Luna started to strike the wall, but her smile did not falter. Over the last few days she had absorbed much emotion from the residents of Canterlot. The one that tasted the worst, but was also the most powerful , was hatred. Having stored most of it inside herself, and ability only a queen had, she now released it and infused it into the captured princesses system. Mindcontrol and manipulation was every Changelings specialty, but Chrysalis, as the most powerfull among them, was able to actually direct the thoughts of her victims. It was so much fun messing with Luna. The Princess of the night had not done anything to her, the last time she had been in Canterlot to take it over, but Chrysalis had formed a plan last night. When her Changelings had come in, reporting that Ponyville had fallen, but the trap she had set had worked, she was delighted at first. This joy however recieded as they presented not Celestia to her, but Luna.... What was she to do with a rebellious little Allicorn, who had been converted to the side of good by the elements of harmony? But then it had come to her. YES! Luna has once fought her own sister, out of jealousy and rage.
If she could get Luna to transform back into Nightmare Moon, she COULD win a powerfull ally! And even if the creature was unwilling to help her, she could always just have her publicy executed. It was a situation in which she COULD not lose. Either she won an ally, or demoralized the Ponies of Equestria even more, by executing one of their beloved princesses.
Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy all looked up as the entire dungeon shook violently. They did not know what was happening, but they didn't like the feeling of it. All of them felt as if an enormous amount of rage was directed their way. The last time they had felt like this, it had been in the presence of Nightmare Moon....
Luna panted hard, but finally she was able to think straight again. That last buck had no effect on the wall either, but since this room was built underground, had caused a small earthquake. That alone felt good. She tried to think about a way to escape the prison she herself had built, but another surge of rage hit her, and her thoughts, once again, became clouded. This time, Luna did not buck the wall however. She had lost control completly. She had let her guard down, only for a moment. Luna began to slam the side of her head against the wall. Even when her skin broke and the wall was soon smeered with her own blood, she did not stop. Only when she used all of her remaining stregth, and hit the wall so hard, that the room around her shook once again, was darkness finally enveloping her...
Chrysalis snorted. That stupid Allicorn had actually knocked herself out! Sure she could try to put some more rage into her, but that would only be a waste of gathered emotions. While sleeping her manipulation was way less effective, even more so if her target was unconciouss. Had Luna noticed something? Had she knocked herself out beause she KNEW what Chrysalis was planning? If that was the case, her logic told her it would be best to dispose of her as quickly as possible. But another part of her didn't want to give up. She had only ever heard of Nightmare Moon and her strength. Even if she was unable to bring her to her side, she still wanted to see it. She wanted to see what kind of creature would be born, from a corrupted Allicorn...
Big Mac,Cheeralie and some others were helping to clean out the mess that was left behind after last nights battle. Their saviours, were resting in Ponyville general hospital, under the care of nurse Redheart and others. They had been lucky to survive all this, he thought as he threw another dead Changeling onto a cart. All citizens of Ponyville, once freed from the mindcontrol, had started to assist them in the battle, but had Princess Luna not shown up when she did, it would have ended differently. Big Mac whiped a bead of sweat of his brow, Neither he, nor any of the others had slept that night. They had immideatly started to help their saviours, after the battle was over. They introduced themselves as the children of the night, which Big Mac did not fully understand, but he didn't care either. They had saved his life, and he was indebted to them beacuse of that. After they had knocked the executioner away from him, the other Changelings who had held his ropes, had let go and joined the fight. He had then grabbed the Battleaxe that had fallen to the ground, and freed the others. His stomach still wasn't to well, since he had used that axe to slaughter several of the changelings, but he would be ok. That was more then he could say for some of those who had helped them.
They had won the battle in the end, but were utterly demoralized. Princess Luna, who they called "their dear mother", had been captured by the last few remaining Changelings, and they took it very badly. The eight Unicorns, that had survived the battle had, together with some of Ponyvilles Unicorn citizens, cast a barrier to keep the changelings out from now on. they then had left Ponyville, in the direction of the Everfree forest. Most of the Pegasi and Earthponies of their group had stayed here, since they were in no condition to travel. Mayor Mare had a long discussion with one of the Unicorns, by the name of Frostmane. She had promissed that she would see to the matter of forces being sent to Ponyville, but that she and her Unicorn breathen had to return to a place called "the garden". They also had said something about some kind of spark, that needed to be replenished, and that their comrades would have to return their aswell, as soon as they could move.
Big Mac did not understand half of what Frostmane had told the mayor, but he knew she was a good Pony. After the battle, he had found her in the town square, crying her heart out over the capture of Princess Luna. He had done everything he could do comfort her, but she wouldn't stop crying. In the end, he had gone over to golden oak library with her and put her into Twilights bed on the upper floor, after giving her a mug full of strong Applecider from Twilights kitchen. He had always wondered why the clever Unicorn had wanted that strong stuff, but now it came in handy. Only seconds after he had put her down onto the bed, Frostmane had fallen asleep. He had then gone out to get nurse Redheart to see to her leg. The cleanup of town had started soon after. There were just so many bodies... Not only Changelings, but also many, many Ponies. The children of the night had insisted that their dead were to be lined up in the town hall. Later, when reinforcements came, another group would get them and bring them home, so they could be burried in their homelands soil.
Big Mac understood that much... They had come to their aid by a request from Princess Luna, even so they would have no reason to do so. Their "garden" seemed to be a safe place, where the changelings would never be able to bother them, and still they had left that safety to help them. Now they had died in a foreign land, and it was only natural that their comrades wanted them to be burried in their homeland.... A tear rolled down Big Macintoshs cheeks. He would never be able to repay a debt like that. They had made the ultimate sacrifice for Ponyvilles safety, and he was gratefull. Earlier, when he had met up with Mr. Cake, the Earthpony had done something, that had caused Big Mac to give him a smack over the head with his hoof.
"I mean, I am gratefull and all that.... But don't you think they are kind of stupid to have left safety?"
Big Mac had not answered right away.... Well, not with words however. After he had knocked him to the ground, he had shouted at him for a full ten minutes, before Cheeralie was able to get him away from the shocked baker.
"You gotta stay calm, Big Mac. I'm sure he didn't mean it."
"He better appologize to them. Ah wouldn't be alive if they hadn't come."
"I know, I know. Neither would I, but shouting won't help resolve the current situation. Look, I know your angry and all, but you got to realize that we have to work together, if we want to save them."
Big Mac had then fallen silent once again. He knew of whom his friend was talking about. Applejack and the others.... He owed Twilight and her friends a favor also.... They had been there when they had almost lost their farm, to the Flim and Flam brothers, and even helped them in the competition. He was not stupid. He knew that only their help had pushed them to get hasty and ruin their Cider in the end. Big Mac looked up into the sky, where now the sun had risen once again. It had lost most of it's glory.... So the news of Princess Luna's capture must have reached Princess Celestia by now. As he looked up into the sky he swore something to himself... No matter what it took, no matter what he would have to do, he would help the children of the night. If they were looking for volunteers, he would be the first one to join up. If it was food they needed, he would gladly give all that was stored at Sweet Apple Acres, if it ment that they gained an advantage. They had saved his life, his home and many of his friends and had, so far not asked for anything in return. Yes, he would help them... because an Apple never left a debt unpaid.
Chapter 10
Reports
Frostmane, and her seven Unicorn friends, had marched all the way back to the barrier. Only two Pegasi and one Earthpony had accompanied them. The rest of the one hundred and seventythree survivors, had stayed in Ponyville for treatment. Their sparks were still strong enough to last a few days, hers however was almost depleted. Using her special talent, which she had originally discovered by making iced sweets, outside the barrier had used much of her magic. Her right foreleg, which was in a cast thanks to Ponyvilles healers, didn't help much either. This should have been a glorious return home, but the moment they had stepped through the barrier, she felt more like a beaten dog. Sure they had driven the changelings out, and the citizens of Ponyville were more then happy to help them, but it had really been a defeat. In three hundred years, Frostmane had never once been afraid of a fight, nor had she lost a single member of her squad... Tonight, they had left over half their forces dead bodies behind. It just didn't sit well with her, to leave them like that, but what choice did she have? There had been no way to transport them....
Interrupted in her thoughts, Frostmane noticed that somepony was speaking to her. It was Moonsinger. Her expression was worried, but also excited. What was she saying? Frostmane had to pull herself together to focus on the other mare.
"Could you... repeat that?"
"Well, I was just asking how it went. Is mother still in Ponyville, organizing the defenses? I have already organized a troop of nine hundred Ponies, to go and help with that. If we play our cards right...."
But suddenly Moonsinger stopped, noticing the tears in her friends eyes.
"You... no... you didn't... loose?"
Frostmane nodded, but immediately spoke again, to cut off any blame Moonsinger would want to dish out.
"It was a trap. They where hiding in the archives beneath Ponyville. When we attacked them in the townsquare, they swarmed us. We had to almost overuse our gifts just to survive... and even then most of us didn't manage... Before you ask.. no we are not the only ones. The ones that were to heavily wounded are still back in Ponyville.... one-hundred-seventy-three made it out alive. The town is free, a barrier has been established, and they are eager to help us."
"So... mother is still helping them? Also I will immideatly get a group together to bring the injured and dead home..."
Moonsinger tried to busy herself, not wanting to hear the next words that came out of her friends mouth.
"Mother... has been captured...."
Moonsinger stopped her rambling, and stared blankly at Frostmane, as if she had just suggested to throw a party for the Changelings.
"You...your kidding, right? Just like that one time.... you and Orange Candy told me there was a Cockatrice in the kitchen...."
Moonsinger said, more speaking to herself then to Frostmane. She could understand Moonsinger. She herself felt like breaking down and crying, but had stayed strong for her friends. Finally, after a few long minutes that felt like an eternity to Frostmane, Moonsingers eyes came back into focus. They began to glow and she tried to run past Frostmane, right out of the barrier, but she didn't get far. Frostmane let her mane lash out at Moonsinger, not freezing her, but capturing her in a cold embrace.
"What are you doing? Let me go! Let me go you stupid mule!"
"Since you are upset, a feeling I can more then relate to, I will just pretend that I am temporarily deaf to your words. You must realize, that we would have pursued them, if we had the possibility. But all of us were heavily injured, and most dead. Had it not been for our mothers gifts, we would all be dead by now.YOU may be stronger then most of us, but charging into Canterlot, where they most likely took her, all by yourself is a death sentence. I will NOT allow you to go and get yourself killed. As of now, we must do the last thing our mother asked of us, and that is securing Ponyville, or it will be taken over before the sun sets today!"
Moonsinger struggled in Frostmanes mane, unable to use her magic, since the magical mane silenced it's victims by cutting them off from the mana around them. She knew all that... She KNEW what her friend was telling her, which didn't ease the pain in her chest one bit. Her mother had returned after so long, and now they had failed her... They had disappointed her... SHE had disappointed her... SHE had let her down.
As Moonsinger broke out in tears, Frostmane let go of her, embracing her long time friend with her hooves instead. While Moonsinger cried and bawled like a foal, who has it's favorite toy taken away, a familiar white Allicorn closed in on the pair. The other survivors had already moved on. Some to get medical treatment, some just didn't want to be present when Frostmane broke the news to Moonsinger.
"What is all this commotion about? Moonsinger, have you seen Luna? I had to set the moon for her, and I'd like to know why she has neglected her duties."
Moonsingers eyes fixed on Celestia. Her eyes burned with rage, even so she kept her gift under control. She broke free from Frostmane, and pointed a hoof accusingly at Celestia.
"YOU! This is all YOUR fault! Hundreds of us have died, and mother has been taken prisoner!"
Tears streamed down her face as she spoke, and slowly approached the Allicorn that dwarfed her in size.
Celestia did not fully understand what Moonsinger had just said. Luna captured? How could that be? Sure Luna was not as strong as her, but surely she would not fall that easily. And what was that about dead Ponies? Had Luna finally acted, as she had prompted her for several days?
"What do you mean Moonsinger? I don't understand? What happend?"
"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPEND! MOTHER WAS TIRED OF YOU NAGGING HER TO START THE OFFENSIVE! SHE TOOK FIVEHUNDRED ENFORCERS AND LEFT FOR PONYVILLE, WHERE THEY RAN INTO A TRAP! SHE HAD TO OVERUSE HER MAGIC TO TURN THE TIDES, AND THAT WAS WHAT GOT HER CAPTURED!"
Celestia was stunned for a moment. Sure she had tried to press Luna to start the offensive. Now, in the early stages of her defeat, she hoped that the Changelings would still be disorganized and easy to overwhelm... That Luna had fallen into a trap however indicated otherwise. Chrysalis already had her forces in order, and was preparing the defenses. That was bad news indeed. That her sister had been captured, did not help in the slightest. What would Chrysalis do with her? The most logical outcome would be, that she executed her sister as soon as possible, weakening the pair considerably....
She looked at the Unicorn mare that stood before her... She was definitly enraged, and surely she was the target of that rage. Celestia could more then understand that feeling, but they would have to act cautiosly from now own. Chrysalis would foresee more attacks, and maybe even start an offensive against them. As much as it hurt Celestias heart, she could not afford to burn her way to the Canterlot dungeons and free Luna. She alone would maybe be able to do just that, but she would arrive there in a weakend state. Then she would be an even easier victim for Chrysalis....
"We must make haste and fortify Ponyville. While I go and oversee the procedure, we need to look for volunteers in the garden. Our current forces, are just not enough."
"Who do you think you are, telling US what to do? I thought I made it perfectly clear the first time you tried this: WE.DO.NOT.AKNOWLEDGE.YOUR.AUTHORITY! In our mothers absence, I am second in command. And my authority is not given by royalty or some rank, but I EARNED it. They TRUST me!"
Frostmane put a hoof on Moonsingers shoulder, prompting her to turn her gaze from Celestia. She shook her head in resignation.
"Moonsinger... She is right. Even mother told us, that securing Ponyville is important. You should listen to her, even if it is just this once."
Moonsinger, shook her head in denial. She knew that Celestia was right, but that fact enraged her even more. That fivehundred enforcers had almost lost a battle, only showed that their forces were more then outnumbered... They needed volunteers, if they wanted to win this, or Chrysalis would surely retaliate against the Garden...
Celestia saw that Moonsinger was trapped between two options... She could either listen to her, and do what she had said, or she could refuse and do things her way. That would most likely result in even more Ponies getting hurt, or even worse.
She sighed... She had to convince Moonsinger that what she was saying, came from experience and was therefor the right thing to do, or at least a thing to consider.
"Moonsinger.... Has Luna... I mean your mother, ever told you about our time before we became council members?"
"What does this have to do with anything? I..."
"Follow me. I need to talk to you in private... I never wanted to reveal this to anypony, but I guess a situation has arisen, where you need to know."
Dumbfounded, and a little curious about her mothers past, Moonsinger followed Celestia back to the Inn. On there way there, the pair did not speak a single word. To her it seemed like Celestia was struggling against her better judgment. It seemed that she did not want her to know, what she was about to tell her, but saw no other way. As they reached Celestias room on the upper floor, the Princess of the sun settled on her bed, and gestured to Moonsinger to make herself comfortable.
"What I am about to tell you, you must NEVER reveal to anypony else. It is your mothers and my greatest secret. We swore, when we became Alicorns, never to tell anypony. Now I will have to break that oath...."
Moonsinger nodded in agreement. No matter what Celestia had to say, she wouldn't be swayed to listen to her.
"Very well... You know, that there was a war between the races, some time before Discord ruled? Ok. At that time, your mother and I served in the army. In the forces of the Unicorn republic to be precise. Luna was part of special operations, and she was good at what she did. Her nickname in those days were.... Bloody Shadow.... Her dark coat made it almost impossible for enemies to discover her in the dark, and the moment they did, it was already to late. She never enjoyed what she did, but that doesn't change the fact that she barely ever got injured, once high command ordered her to assasinate another Earthpony or Pegasus Commander.... I, on the other hoof, was part of high command, mission planning division. They called me Fog of War.... That was due to my uncannie ability, to foresee what our enemies were about to do, and position our own forces so that they could ambush them easily. Sometimes I would have some of our soldiers act as bait, to draw in the enemies main force, but the missions I planned, barely ever failed. Luna never had much for planning. She was always the one who would return to the base, freshly washed and her armor polished. She never once returned bloody. She always washed herself, and polished her armor in a stream that ran just outside our base. Her nickname was given to her, after a soldier once saw her bathing. According to what she told me later, the whole stream had turned red, and all he could see in the dim Moonlight, was a shadow that was scrubbing off upstream.... You see... I have experience with a situation like this. I know what to do, even so I am no great fighter. I may have more raw magical ability then Luna, but she can overtake me with her experience. What caused Discords rule... was the only mission we ever attempted together, and the only one that failed utterly... We were already councilmembers, and had heard a rumor that a cult of fanatic Unicorns, was trying to perform a ritual, to return the world to it's state of war and chaos. We decided to put a stop to that, and ambushed the cultists as they were performing their ritual. We did stop them, but an incomplete spell is always dangerous. The embodyment of Chaos... Discord was born. Our immunity to his magic comes from the fact, that we were present the moment he stepped out of the spell... Now you know... our darkest secret, and WHY we attempted to use the Elements of Harmony, even though they were considered dark magic at the time...."
Moonsingers muzzle stood open. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Her mother... this gentle and reliable Pony, a special operations mare? An assassin, no less?
"You're lying! Mother would never...."
"I TOLD you, she didn't like it, and she always felt sick for several days after. I can't count how often I went to her room to comfort, and care for her. For days after a mission she would not be seen in public. Around the other soldiers she always acted tough, and as if none of this could get to her, but deep inside, she never got over it. It was a time of war... A time I had hoped nopony would have to see ever again!"
Moonsinger looked down... number three of her mothers rules, was:
"Never kill another being, unless you have to. And if you have to, do it quick so your opponent does not suffer. Only bad Ponies fight to make their opponents suffer."
She had always heeded those words, as had all her brothers and sisters. Did some of those rules actually come from a the time her mother was a Special Operator? Now that she thought about it, it made sense. And if that was true then.... it was for the best to let her aunt at least have a say, when it came to mission planning. She looked up again, directly into Celestias eyes.
"I can't say I believe you completely, but I guess your help in planning will be beneficial for all of us. But everything you plan, and every "order" you give, must come through ME first."
Celestia nodded.
"I wouldn't have it any other way...."
Within the hour, one thousand three-hundred enforcers made way to Ponyville, while another one hundred made their way to the other settlements to look for volunteers...
Chapter 11
Nightmares
Oh cursed Alicorn,
for war you're born,
Everyponies heart will ache,
from destruction in your wake,
Wounds you deal,
will never heal,
burn the land,
with your minions band,
Relentless you fight on,
untill you die or the fight is won,
Begone dark creature,
nopony likes you feature,
Kill you we will,
for you do only ill,
Run for your life,
it is peace we strife....
Celestia awoke damp from sweat. It had been hundreds of years, since she had dreamed of her mothers old nursery rhyme. She put a hoof up to her forehead. There had once been a much shorter Unicorn horn there. Now, there was an almost twice as long Alicorn horn...
„Cursed Alicorn....“
Celestia muttered to herself. Her kind had been considered almost like demons, back when she still was an Unicorn. The ancient civilization of Alicorns... The fourth race.... The cursed destroyers of the land, and who did not even consider other Ponies living beings. She had never known the Alicorns of old, but had heard stories from her mother, when she was still a foal. According to her, they had been a race of supreme magic users, who had hunted other Ponies for sport, and waged wars, just for the sensation of the fight alone.
The enraged face of her grandmother, who had banished her from the families house after her transformation. The fearfull faces of Unicorns that looked at her, when she was passing through the streets of Unipotolis. Ponies she had considered her friends, had started to avoid her. For Luna, it had been even worse. She didn't have that many friends, and the few she did mostly avoided her aswell. Luna had never heard the stories her mother had told her. Their mother had died, before she had been in the respective age. She did her best to shield Luna from the hatefull gazes, from former friends, but it had never been enough. Eventually her baby sister had found out about it, which made it even worse for her.
Allicorns were burdend with prejustice, even so the sisters had done nothing wrong. Even today, Celestia assumed that they were mostly asked to reign, out of fear of their power.... In the beginning of their reign, most Ponies had feared them. Only about two generations after they had been crowned, the Ponies of Equestria had begone to appreciate and love them. The rhymes about cruel and war waging Alicorns, dismissed as the Ponies now saw the the sisters ruled with fairness and kindness.
With a relucatnt hoof, she touched the necklace she wore. The seventh element of harmony.... The Alicorn Element... The one thing that most likely, was responsible for her, and Lunas transformation. It was the one thing she would never surrender, to the new bearers of the elements. Even though she had made Cadence and Twilight fellow Allicorns, they would NEVER have to endure the curse she and Luna did. The elements worked just fine without it, and the last thing Equestria needed, were more emotionally unstable Allicorns....
A knock on her door pulled Celestia out of her memories.
„Come in.“
She said, and in came Moonsinger, accompanied by guard captain Goldshield. While the captain bowed respectfully, the Unicorn wore an expression of annoyance and impatience.
„Your majest....“
„Celestia, we're already late! Everypony's just waiting on you, so why are you still in bed?“
Goldshield threw a disbelieving glance at Moonsinger, but didn't dare to speak out her irritation.
She was Princess Lunas daughter after all, so even if she did not bare Pegasus wings along with her horn, the mare was still part of the royal family, which she had sworn to protect. But it was not easy, not to loose her temper around the new „Princess“.... She was usually in good humor around Goldshield, but usually got pretty sour when it came to Princess Celestia and her plans. She obviously regretted having allowed the Princess to help in the planning. Ever since Princess Luna got captured, two weeks ago, she and her squad had worked hoof in hoof with the enforcers. It was important to train the many volunteers, from all over the garden, and it couldn't hurt to have the guard train some of them.
„I'm sorry Moonsinger, please wait a moment, I will be right with you.“
„About time, if you ask me! I'm not used to going out during the day, and I would prefer to hit the sack, instead of venturing through the forest to Ponyville.“
„Let me remind you, that it was YOU who insisted to come along. I have to reassure my little Ponies, that everything is going to be fine. Also will a personal visit from me, raise their morale. How is the training of the new volunteers going?“
Celestia inquired while getting ready.
„Your majesty... The volunteers progress is astonishing. In the last few days we have held sparing matches against them, and I am ashamed to say that we lost each one. They learn fast and work with a determination, I have never seen before in anypony else.“
Moonsinger turned to the still kneeling Goldshield and frowned.
„Well of course they do! Why do you think so many came? It was because we sent out word, that our dear mother is in danger. Had we not put up an age limit, even teenagers would have tried to enlist! Rule number fourty-three: If you have a task ahead of you, study as hard as you can to accomplish your goal!“
While the two mares began an argument, that it was not just studying that was needed for the upcoming battles, Celestias gaze fell on a book Moonsinger had provided her with. „Mothers rules, with examples and explanations“, was written on the cover. Celestia had read it eagerly, wanting to know more about the laws her sister had laid down. The realization had made her shiver. It was an altered version of the Unicorn Republics code of honor for high ranking officers. Some of the rules still were the same, while others had been altered in content and meaning. Most, on the other hoof, had only been altered in wording... Rule number three came to mind. In the original it had been:
„Dispose of an enemy quickly, so he doesn't have a chance to stab you in the back.“
While Lunas version of it was more fitted to her children. She put quite an emphasis on the fact, that only bad Ponies made others suffer. This was like a red string through all her rules. These Ponies had, without knowing it, held up the ideals of the Unicorn Republic she had once served. It was painfull to admit it, but the strict ways of the Republic may now come in handy for her own cause.
Once ready, the three departed for Ponyville. A strange nervousness struggled in Celestias gut the closer they got to their new „forward base“.
As they reached the settlement, Celestia saw Ponies left and right, building barricades and fortifying the town. All under the instruction of Lunas children, who had more experience with the Changelings, then any of them did. She had feared that they reigned over her Ponies, with an iron hoof, but they seemed to get along fine. She saw Ponies from both fractions talking to each other, and even laughing. The happy atmosphere could almost make her forget, that she would have to lead those Ponies into battle. As the first of them noticed the approaching Alicorn, they bowed respectfully. At least her subjects did. Lunas children mostly nodded, to show they recognized her, or waved a hoof in greeting.
Mayor mare galloped through the streets of Ponyville. Word had reached her, that Princess Celestia herself was in town, and nopony had cared to give her a warning. The town was in no shape to house royalty at the moment, nor at any point in the near future. As the Princess came into view, talking with some Ponies, she was already out of breath. Bowing before her, the mayor was more then ashamed of herself.
„Your highness! What an honor it is for you to grace us with your presence. Had you let me know beforehand, I would have had time to prepare something for you.“
„It is ok Mayor. I don't want you to waste any of the avaiable ressources on my behalf. A feast is the last thing we need now.“
„But your highness...“
„Now now...“
Celestia tried to calm the nervous mare.
„There really is no need for you to be this nervous. I am just here to see how preparations are going.“
„We have made great progress, your highness. The barrier is kept in place by several of our Unicorns in turns, the fortification efforts are going smoothly and Baltimare has sent us some engineers, to aid in constructing a wall around the town.“
„Baltimare? But I thought....“
Celestia looked at Moonsinger, who couldn't keep a grin off her face.
„You remember that you couldn't find me for three nights in a row? Well guess where I was.“
„You didn't.... Without consulting with me first?“
„Oh come on, as if it would hurt your cause. The battle was over in less then an hour and our losses were kept at a minimum. Even so they tried the same thing they did here in Ponyville, Frostmane has learned her lesson from her near defeat here.“
„How many Enforcers did you sneak out, from under my nose?“
„First of all, I didn't sneak anypony out. We left the barrier during nighttime, when YOU usually sleep. And we were about fifty thousand.“
„You took untrained volunteers into battle?“
„Not really untrained. They had already compleated their basic training with your guards.“
„How many casualties?“
„Thirty thousand Changelings, which is only a rough estimate, we didn't bother counting. Several injured, some heavily on our side, and about two hundred dead.“
„Had you...“
„No Celestia... Remember our agreement. You are a mere consultant. Even if you had planned the whole thing, it couldn't have run smoother.“
„Explain your methods.“
„I don't have to justify my actions towards you, Celestia, but I will tell you this: The Changelings are not the only ones who can use transformation magic.“
Celestias eyes narrowed.
„But that's Alli...“
But she did not finish her sentence. Celestia had noticed the confused look on the mayors face, seeing how casual Moonsinger was speaking to her. She adressed the mayor instead, but giving her niece a glance, that promised they would talk about this later.
„I think I must introduce my niece to you. She is my sisters adopted daughter.“
The mayor gasped and turned her bow to Moonsinger now.
„I am honored by your presence, Princess. May I be so bold, as to ask your name?“
Moonsinger frowned. She did not desire anypony to bow to her. Nor was she comfortable with the militaristic behaviour her new Enforcers were taught. Ranks and royalty had never ment anything in the garden. All this was threatening to gnaw at the verry foundations of her home. She sighed. It couldn't be helped...
Rule number ten: „A promise is a promise, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.“
She guessed that, as long as she was in Equestria, she would have to put up with being called a Princess.
„My name is Moonsinger. Please rise, it makes me feel.... strange.“
The mayor sprung to her hooves immideatly. She was clearly uncomfortable with the tought of making royalty feel srange. It was then, that the mayors muzzle dropped, and her eyes widend. As Moonsinger followed her gaze, she saw the other mare was looking at her cutiemark.
This was a complication, that had to be expected.... These Ponies never had seen her, or had heard of a Pony that was NOT an Alicorn, that shared a Princesses cutiemark.
„Please.... This is nothing. Please don't assume...“
„So we have to thank you for the past nights, Princess Moonsinger?“
The mayor asked, once she had regained some of her composure.
„Not really... My special talent is...“
„It was I who raised the moon in my sisters place.“
Celestia interrupted. Either she did not want Moonsinger to talk about her talent in public, or she tried to get the attention back to more pressing matters. Either way, Moonsinger was gratefull for it. Even most of her brothers and sisters did not know her special talent, and she didn't really want to discuss it with a pony she had never met before.
„Anyway, Mayor mare... We need information.Mostly about the volunteers from Ponyville, and the current supply situation. Can you provide the respective Doctuments and bring them to the library? I think Twilight would not mind if I use her house while I am here.“
„Of course Princess... but you might want to know something first...“
„Which would be?“
Moonsinger said, stepping forward, looking concerned at the mayors urgent tone.
„The barrier.... it only keeps the changelings out... yesterday we found... Spike... collapsed just behind our borders. He has appearantly escaped the Changelings, when he was seperated from Princess Twilight and the other elements of Harmony. According to his story, he has been on the run ever since. He had no other place to go, so he made his was to Ponyville, which took him almost three weeks on foot. The poor little guy has locked himself in the library, crying over his friends fate. I think he is blaming himself, for not staying and fighting.“
Moonsingers eyes began to glow, as she once again lost control over her emotions. She stomped a hoof so hard on the ground, that it disappeared several inches into the asphalt.
„That coward left behind his friends, and ran for his own life? That is...“
Celestia laid a hoof on Moonsingers shoulder to calm her, while the mayor was reminded of the time Princess Luna had come to Ponyville on Nightmare night. She was cowering in fear of this new Princess, and the feeling was the same she had felt back then....
„Moonsinger... Spike is no pony. He is just a baby dragon. I can only imagine how terrified he must have been during the intial attack on Canterlot. I am sure he himself would have loved to fight to the end, if he had the strength or the courage to do so. My student, Twilight Sparkle, is like a big sister to him after all.“
Slowly, Moonsinger calmed down. Twilight Sparkle? She knew that name. Her thoughts drifted off, to a day almost ten years ago. Back then, she had been on her way to Ponyville to sell some of the products the garden offered. They couldn't produce everything on their own, so they had to venture out sometimes to trade with the daylight Ponies. She remembered that she had seen a Timberwolf chasing something through the bushes, but didn't care to investigate. Only when she had heard the scream of a filly, she had thrown the baskets she had carried aside, and hurried to the place the scream had come from. The scene, she would never forget. A little lavinder Unicorn filly with a purple and pink mane was cowering beside a rock wall. There was nowhere for her to run, and she seemed to be too young to know any defensive magic. The filly was crying in fear, and it almost tore Moonsingers heart out to hear that sound. She had lost her temper then, and used all her strength to attack the predator. The fight had been over quickly, and the Timberwolf fled after only seconds. Most of the forests predators knew, that it was a bad idea to mess with the children of the night.
Moonsinger had then tried to console the filly, to no avail. She just wouldn't stop crying. All she had been able to get out of her, had been her name and that she had entered the forest on a dare.... Moonsinger smiled at he filly as gently as she could, and levitated her to her back. She did it the same way her mother had done it with her, so many years ago. The young one did not yet have her cutiemark, but Moonsinger did not care for such things. What had mattered to her had been, that the filly had calmed down once on her back. By the time she had brought her back to the frantic caretaker from her magic kindergarden group, the filly had been fast asleep... In the end, Moonsinger had not sold a single thing.... She had forgotten her baskets in the forests and hadn't been able to find them later....
A smile played around her muzzle. So she had become Princess Celestias personal student in the end.... She turned to Celestia.
„Is that Twilight Sparkle a lavender Unicorn, with a two toned mane and tail?“
Celestia looked shocked but recovered fast.
„Y....Yes... she is.... Well she is an Alicorn now...“
„I would like to see her again...“
„You know her?“
„It's a boring story... but in short, yes I do....“
Chapter 12
Nightmare Moon....
The morning after the attack on Canterlot
Rainbow Dash was dizzy, and her whole body ached as she came to. Her eyelids felt so damn heavy. What had happend? Where was she? Why did she have the feeling like there was ice piercing her wings? Slowly she realized, why she had woken up in the fist place. It hadn't been because of the hurt she was experiencing, no she had slept through worse. What had woken her up were the sniffling sounds, and the sobbing of a voice she knew. Dash fought against the waves of dizziness that tried to wash over her, slowly opening her eyes. On the other side of the room, she saw a yellow and pink blurr with red splotches on it. Her eyes swam a little and it took her a moment to get them focused. After that brief moment, she saw that it was Fluttershys voice she had been hearing. The Pegasus was chained to the opposite wall, with some gadget on her head, preventing her from closing her eyes, and at the same time keeping her head pointing in one direction. As Dash, still not fully awake herself, followed her friends gaze, a shock ran through her spine, jolting her awake in an instant.
There, on the wall oposite the steel door to their cell, hang several small critters. Some of them were still alive, while others were dead. Each and every one of the birds, squirrels and even Angel Bunny, had a collar around it's neck. Dash was not as smart as Twilight, but seeing the dead critters heads lying on the floor, made it painfully obvious what these collars were for. An almost inaudible click sounded through the room, and a blue Canary lost it's head. Fluttershy tried desperatly to get somewhere, even so she was in tears and her legs and midrift were bound with chains. Again Dash followed her gaze. On the wall, only a few inches below the animals, and only about a meter out of her friends reach, was a lever.
"Fluttershy! Fluttershy, calm down! What is happening?"
Rainbow Dashs voice was clearly not enough to make Fluttershy snap out of it. She didn't know how long they were imprisoned and she did not care either. All she knew was that her friend was unresponsive to her, and that her eyes had an insane gleam in them. Fluttershy loved animals, it was her special talent to communicate with them, afterall after all. Dash, who was not chained at her hooves, nor her midrift, tried to reach the lever her friend tried to get to. Maybe it would put a stop to whatever was happening to Fluttershys little animal friends. As she walked towards it however, she felt that her wings got pulled back. A quick glance revealed the reason for this. Rainbow almost screamed out, as she saw the thick Iron bolts somepony had driven through her wings. On the other end, they were connected to the wall. With her hooves, she tried to plug them out unplug them, even if she may never be up to snuff again, she would atleast be able to fly, and maybe even get both of them out of here. But it was no use, they didn't budge, and Rainbow Dash didn't want to pull too hard, so asnot to damage her wings, her pride, her ability to fly any more then neccesary.
What stroke struck her as odd though, was the fact that no matter how hard she pulled, it didn't hurt at all. She only felt the coldness eminating from the bolts shift slightly, but there was no pain. Had she been drugged? The thought relifed relieved and frigthend frightened her at the same time. On one hoof, she was glad not to feel any pain, but on the other one Fluttershy could have been suffering for days since their capture! She could tell, that her foalhood friend was close to going insane, from having to watch her animal friends being harmed, without being able to look away or help them. The sobbing she heard, and the tears she saw on her pink maned friend, tore at Dashs heart. But there was nothing she could do. Again, there was a click, and a snake, lost it's headthis head thistime, the small fountain of blood splattering all over Fluttershy, tinting her coat a dirty shade of red.
Another cry from Fluttershy and the yellow Pegasus threw herself even harder against her restrains. Dash could see that one of her hindlegs was already bend bend in bent at an odd angle, and even so though she was covered in blood, she could see several bruises all over her friends body. Dash looked away, averting her gaze to her wings. She had always been proud of them, but right now they were preventing her from something ,that was more important to her, then anything on this world. Even more important then joining the Wonderbolts. The Wonderbolts paled in comparison of helping a friend in need... She was still drugged, and she hoped her body would provide the strength she needed for what she was about to do. One last time, she took a look at her, mutulated, but still intact wings. She kissed them both softly, as her eyes began to fill with tears.
"Mommy loves you...."
Even while she was whispering it, Dash threw herself forward. She felt how the joints in her shoulders protested against the strain of her efford. Her wings were now fully extended, but held back by the chained bolts in them, while Rainbow Dash used all the strength she could muster to free herself. It woul hurt once the drugs wore off, that she knew.... She would never be able to fly again, that she also knew... But her firend friend needed her RIGHT NOW, and that was more important then anything in the world. It was even more important than the fact that she had finally remembered how she ended up here. The Changelings had taken over Equestria, but even that was unimportant compared to her friends suffering. Suddenly, as if a spell had been taken off of her, the pain of ripping flesh and breaking bones ran through Rainbow Dashs body. She did not stop regardless. Her friend needed her... She clenched her theeth teeth, and continued to set one hoof in front of another, slipping slightly on the blood that now seeped from her back.
"Just.... a little... further... Just... a .... few... more... steps..."
She thought through the [paininduced/color] pain induced haze that was her mind, as she moved onward. Finally, a ripping sound and an unimaginable pain, where her right wing had been just moments ago, made her stop in her tracks, and scream in agony. Her vision blurred again, and she screamed from the top of her lungs, tears running down her face. Her friend, still tried to get to the lever that was only a little out of reach, and didn't hear her. Dash collapsed for a moment, the pain from her back paralyzing her. Her whole body protested now. It wanted her to stop, but she would not let Fluttershy down, she just couldn't! They had gone such a long way together, and she needed her NOW!
It took all her willpower to get upright again, but she managed to get back on her trembling hooves. Her steps became shorter and less energetic, as she anticipated a second rush of pain. Just as she had almost reached the lever, and thought that she might be lucky enough to keep one wing, a second ripping sound cut through the darkness, leaving the skyblue Pegasus screaming and clutching the places where her wings had been. They now hung on the chains, that were still fastend to the wall.... For a moment the sheer reality of what she had done crashed down on her. She had ripped her own wings off. She wanted to crawl back and get them.... Try to reattach them, no matter how... She wanted her wings back.... She wanted the pain to stop!
Again, a cry from Fluttershy cut through the haze of her own thoughts. Painfully slow, it felt like an eternity, Dash raised her head from the floor. She saw Fluttershy just a meter away from herself. The lever the Pink maned Pegasus had tried to reach, was now within reach for Dash..... Mustering the last of her strength, she crawled towards it, every inch a fight against her own protesting body. Finally, she flipped it over, and the collars around the animals necks opend, releasing three birds, and Angel Bunny.
Rainbow Dash collapsed on the spot, not even having enough strength left in her to turn her head. She felt weak, and even more dizzy then before. The ripping of her wings must have caused a terrible bloodloss, she thought to herself. She saw that Fluttershy was still crying, and throwing herself against her restrains. Had she acted to late? Had her friend already lost it completly? But then she felt herself being dragged and pushed across the floor. She saw who was doing it.... Her left foreleg was pulled by Angel, while she assumed the birds must have been pushing her rump. The blood on the floor certainly made things easier for them....
Fluttershy had just snapped out of it. She had been so fixated on reaching the lever to free her animal friends, that she had completly forgotted about Rainbow Dash, who was brought to the same cell as her. Just when she had heard that terrible click again, and assumed another one of her animal friends would have died, she saw that Rainbow had crawled to the lever herself, flipping it over. As she calmed down, glad that her remaining animal friends were free, even so she was still verry sad about those who had been killed, relief washed over her when she saw that Rainbow was free... This feeling however, went as fast, as it had come. There was something wrong with Rainbow Dash. She was covered in fresh blood, and something was amiss.... At first Fluttershy couldn't place a hoof on it, until she looked at the place on the wall opposite her, where her friend had been chained to the wall by her wings.... There, still dripping blood.... hang Rainbow Dashs wings. Their former skyblue feathers, now looking as if somepony had spilled cherryjuice over them... She just wanted to curl up into a tiny ball again, trying to blend blot out all those scary things, when she felt a paw strike her across the face. As she looked down, Angel was standing in front of her, pointing at the first aid kit their captors had provided her with. At the time he had assumed it had been for her animal friends, but now she knew what had happend. They had WANTED Dash to hurt herself, to help her.... Dash had been hurt because of her. SHE had hurt Dash.... Angel and the others were already doing their best to get the injured Pegasus to Fluttershy. Her own hindleg was broken, but she endured the pain as best she could.
As soon as Angel and the others had brought Rainbow Dash within her reach, Fluttershy grabbed her friends foreleg and pulled her towards herself. She just couldn't help herself but cry.... Before Angel hit her again, reminding her that she had to get to work on treating Dash, she had hugged the lifeless figure of her friend, that lay limply in her forelegs.....
G'zuol watched the scene in the Pegasus cell from the observation room. He was pleased that the intelligence he had gathered for his queen, from the Canterlot royal library, had proven right. The little Pain supressor spell he had picked up during his research had also come in verry handy... He had used it on the mare, just before chaining her to the wall by her wings... It was so much fun when he released the spell. Her bawling and screaming had been heard through the entire dungeon! The blue one with the strange mane, had actually ripped her wings off, just cause it ment helping her friend. He snorted.... If it had been him, he would have watched the other one suffer. afterall after all, there were millions of other Changelings in the hive, bred by the thousands.... Why should they sacrifice anything for one another? The only thing that counted was their queens will. Everything else was unimportant irrelevant and foolish.
Present day, Magical prison in the Canterlot mines
Lunas eyes were glowing white, her wings extended. She hadn't slept more then a few hours in two weeks. Her mental defenses against the rage she was infused with, were weakening. She had realized what was going on, just few days before, when she had caught a glimpse of Chrysalis watching her. The window in the ceiling being the only way in and out of this prison, but there was no way to the prisonor to reach it without the captor allowing it... Or atleast at leastanother spellcaster willing to help was needed for an escape. That however, was the least of her worries... The elements of harmony had stolen all her jealousy and rage, and replaced it with compassion and kindness, leaving her dark side, that had gained a conciousness on it's on when she had transformed into an Alicorn, nothing to feed on .... Now however that dark side came back with vengance, stronger then ever before. Luna just stood in the middle of her prison, a magical whirlwind of dark purple, pale white and black magic raging around her.
"Let me out... I can help you... You will be free, once again... That insect deserves punishment..."
"NO! I will... NEVER again... surrender to you...."
"You suffer without reason... you can be free... you can free the kingdom with my power..."
"I said NO! You want only destruction and war! You want to reign supreme by your own!"
"True... but would that really be that bad? atleast at leastyour children would be safe once again...."
"My... children....."
Lunas thoughts went back to the scene in Ponyville, when she had flown through it's streets, seeing many of her children injured or dead. She shook her head. No... They wouldn't want this.... Her children may have their flaws, and some of them shared Moonsingers petty hatrets hatredagainst her sisters subjects, but they would never want themanihalated annihilated, as was surely Nightmare Moons plan... No not Nightmare Moon...
"Bloody Shadow! You will never WIN AGAIN! I AM PRINCESS LUNA OF EQUESTRIA, MOTHER TO THE CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT, AND YOU WILL NOT WIN THIS DAY!"
Laughter crept into her counter parts mental voice.
"Pfftt... Have it your way then you impudend little foal, but you know you can't resist me forever. Soon... verry soon, your defenses will fall, and what will be left of YOU then? You will be consumed by me.... I am offering you a way out here... Let me come forth and we can both control this body."
Luna had to admit that the offer was tempting. She needed the power to turn into mist again, if she wanted to get out of here by herself, but could she trust Bloody Shadow? Back in the days, when she had still been a soldier, she had been the side of her, that killed other Ponies without hesitation, leaving HER with the painfull memories and remorse of the act.
No... She couldn't trust her, or could she....?
"What... will... you do... if I set you free?"
"Oh! That is going into the right direction, my dear Moonlilly, or do you really prefer your new name... Luna? Well... you honestly want to know what I intend to do, once I can move freely?"
"Yes!"
"Verry well, let me tell you.... I-WILL-KILL-THEM-ALL! How DARE they imprison ME, the great Bloody Shadow, Nightmare Moon, the Queen of the night, in a small cell like this? How DARE they try to take control over what should RIGHTFULLY be MINE?"
"What about the Ponies? Wha....t will you... do to... them?"
It became harder every time Luna tried to form a coherent sentence in her mind, while Chrysalis infused her with more rage and Nightmare Moon tried to take over her body once again.
"Oh don't you fear... I will leave your children alone. THEY like my night, and scorn the day instead. They shall become my new subjects."
"What ... about... the daylight Ponies?"
"They are not worth my time. I will whipe them all out, like the vermin they are. They are no Allicorns, they don't have any other purpose in life, then to serve and amuse us."
"My children...."
"Are no Allicorns either, I know, but I will let them live as part of our bargain.... IF you set me free..."
Luna feared for her children. She feared for her sister, and all the Ponies of Equestria. Would Celestia be able to defeat a Nightmare Moon slash Bloody Shadow, that was infused with that much hatred without the elements of harmony? Would her children fight her, when it became appearent that she had been corrupted? Would her evil side spare them even then?
The temptaion, to atleast at leastsave her children, by accepting the shadows offer, was great and hard to resist, but Luna did it anyhoof anyway. She mustered more and more willpower to keep her mental defenses, from crumbling any further. She could not "rebuild" them at the moment, but she could atleast at least do her best to stop them from fallin fallingapart even further. Her counterpart tried to speak to her again, as she noticed Lunas effords to keep her at bay, but the Princess of the night was too far gone to react to anything anymore.
Her whole being was concentrating on keeping Nightmare Moon inside. Sure, Chrysalis and her Changelings would deserve their fate, but her twins nickname had a good reason... Bloody Shadow... She would not differ between friend or foe, but insteadslaughter everypony that dared to oppose her, or was unlucky enough to be in her sight....
Chapter 13
Discord
In one of the dungeons cells, a grey stone statue stood, an expression of disbelief on it's face. The mismatched wings, were extended as if it wanted to flee, while it's claw on one side, and paw on the other were raised in defense. The snake like body was curled up on the end, like a viper in the grass, ready to strike. Everything was quiet in the cell, no guards stood before it, and no camera had been installed to keep watch over the mismatched thing... Why should they? It was just a statue....right?
A cracking sound ran through the cell, as loud as a thunderclap in the stillness. Small chunks of the statue began to fall to the ground, as a living being came into view beneath the stone, that matched the image of the now destroyed statue.
Discord stretched his limbs... It had only been a few weeks this time, but being turned to stone always made him stiff all over. He chuckled at this.
"Stiff all over!"
He broke out in loud laughter, rolling on the floor while clutching his belly. For a few minutes he continued to roll around, until his attention was drawn to the events, that had led to him being turned in the first place. Five weeks ago, he had found his first friend ever, and promised never to use his magic to harm anypony ever again.... not to much atleast. Since she wanted to make sure, that he was indeed reformed from his evil ways, Celestia had given him a bracelet. He looked down on his front paw, at the golden bracelet. Embedded in it, where small shards of the jewels of the elements of Harmony.
It was not that she didn't trust Fluttershys oppinion on him, but, or so she had told him, it would be better to be safe then sorry. She would remove the bracelet, once he had proven himself in her eyes. The bracelet was weak, compared to the actual elements, so it could only turn him to stone for so long, but it was still annoying. It was supposed to be a reminder, and a punishmnet, that he was indeed on probation. Discord frowned.... Sure... He had used magic against something that LOOKED like a Pony, but certainly in best intention...
Three weeks prior
Discord was studying friendship reports, in Celestias private library. The Princess had told him that, just because he had managed to make ONE Pony his friend, he was not off the hook yet. He needed to understand what friendship was all about. For that reason he had been stuck in there for days, studying the reports of Twilight Sparkle and Celestias former students on the matter. It was boring... But he really didn't have much choice in the matter. The only Pony he COULD work his magic on, was a Pony that called him a friend, and he would never do something.... fun to Fluttershy. Discord sighed... These last two weeks had been so boring... Celestia was showing him more and more reports of students, she had over the years. He needed something more entertaining for a change. Leaving Celestias room, he made his way to the royal Canterlot library to get a good book.
"There surely is no harm "diving" into a good book for a while..."
He thought as he looked for a funny one on the shelfs. Suddenly he heard somepony swear a few rows down. His annoyance returned in full force. Ofcourse, he was the spirit of chaos, but for Celestias sake, this was a library, something even sacred to him. So he called out to the one who had disturbed the silence.
"This is a library for Celestias sake! Be quiet!"
"Oh... ehm sorry."
Came a weak and irritated reply. He knew the voice, but couldn't place a hoof on it immideatly. So he continued to look at the little Ponies section of the library, looking for a funny story that would fit his tase. Soon, he had found the one he was looking for. A childrens book about his adventures and the chaos he had spread, during his short reign over Equestria. Discord walked back, to the reading room of the library, when another figure passed him. A pure black figure, as big as a fully grown Allicorn, with green eyes and a mane that hang down her face, as if it hadn't been washed in years.
"Oh hi Chrissy!"
"Hello Discord."
The two greeted each other, before both of them stopped in their tracks, their eyes wide in suprise. Almost simuntainusly, they shouted at each other.
"What in the world are YOU doing here?"
"What me? You first!"
"No! YOU first!"
Chrysalis shook her head irritably.
"Stop that Discord. So what is the spirit of disharmony doing here in my capital?"
"Oh I beg your pardon Chryssi, but this is still Celestia and Lunas capital. You'd better get out of here, before they discover you again."
She sighed.
"Where in the hay have you been? Equestria fell to my hooves yesterday. Celestia and Luna are on the run. I am now the ruler of Equestria."
Discord needed a moment to process, what Chrysalis had said. Celestia on the run? That was bad. He had suffered a little under her, for the last two weeks, and had more then once tried to get his reign over Equestria back from her, but this wasn't good. Especially one point made the usually cheerfull Discord look at the Changeling Queen, as if he was ready to rip her apart.
"What about the elements of Harmony? Have you harmed them?"
"Oh you don't have to worry, Discord. As long as you don't threaten my reign, you can roam free once again. I don't care about your chaos. The elements won't be able to harm you ever again."
"What have you done with them?"
Even the sometimes pretty dense Chrysalis now heard the anger in his tone. Without meaning to do it, she took a few steps back. What was going on? She knew Discord. He had once caused quite the rucuss in her hive, but it had been entertaining, which is why she didn't expect this reaction from him. Why was he concerned about the elements of harmony?
She gulped. Chrysalis knew that, if it came to a match between the two of them, she would have no chance. Discord was just to powerfull. Even more then Celestia and Luna combined... She decided it would be the best to tell him the truth. Lies were a part of chaos, and he surely would see through it right away.
"Well, they are in the dungeon, undergoing torture like they deserve."
"You did WHAT?"
Discord, usually not one to exchange physical or magical blows, felt something that he had never felt before in his entire life. Boredom, disappointment, amusement... All those feelings he knew, but now he was in rage. His eyes burned, litteraly, the book he had gotten to enjoy himself, lay forgotten on a table nearby.
He snipped his fingers, intending to make Chrysalis talk with his magic, but the moment his spell connected... the Changeling queen had changed herself into a mirror image of Celestia.... The bracelet on his paw had begone to glow, since he had worked his magic against a pony, turning him to stone for a while....
Discord sighed in his cell. He should have known that Chrysalis would have done her homework. But there were more imortant matters now. Where was Flutterhsy? Where were the other elements of Harmony? His magical senses reached out through the walls of his prison. There, a few floors down, he could sense a familiar aura. Using his magic, he vanished into the floor, looking for the familiar presence.
Rarity lay near her sleeping friend, warming her. The dungeons were pretty cold, and Applejack was in pain every moment she was awake. She had tried to call upon some magic atleast, since her horn was not completly gone... it's root had remained, but it had been no use. The amount of magic it could hold, was just not enough anymore. Her coat was bloody, and some of the cuts on her sides had infected themself. The conditions in this prison where far from sanitary afterall....
They got three meals a day and a blanket for each of them, but that was as far as the care they recieved went. Only sometimes two or three of them would come in, torturing her by doing horrible things to her, or stepping on Applejacks still healing legs. They were cruel, and there was absolutly nothing she could to. Once again, she tried to pull some arcane energy into herself. A fire spell came to mind, but only sparks errupted from the stump where her horn had been. She sighed and lay her head back on her forelegs, when she heard a snip, and a brizzeling fire was floating in mid air in front of her. Had she actually succeded? No. There was something else...
"Better?"
Rarity jerked her head around, seeing Discord sticking his head in her cell through one of the walls.
"You! Have you come to mock us aswell? You have something to do with Equestrias fall, have you not?"
Discords heart fell... He could have healed both the injured mares in an instant, but if he did it, he would be turned to stone again, unless they called him their friend and meant it.
"No Rarity... I am a prisoner like you. I want to help you, but you have to trust me."
"Likely story! If you can walk through the walls, why then didn't you come and help us, when they tortured us?"
"Let's just say Celestia took a precaution to prevent me to harm anypony. I got into a fight with Chrysalis and that precaution triggered, turning me to stone..."
Rarity blinked with her remaining eye.
"But then you can help Applejack and the others, if you are free now! So get to it!"
"I can't... Not unless you truely trust me and consider me your friend. THAT is Celestias precaution. If I use my magic on somepony that doesn't, I am turned to stone."
"Fluttershy trusts you. Go help her then! We are in here for so long, I have lost track of time."
"I would... but I can not sense her anywhere... I only sensed you trying to do that firespell. But since you're hurt, you couldn't complete it, so I thought to myself: Discord... you can atleast cast a spell to warm them. It wouldn't be a spell targetting them, but only expose them to warmth."
"But...then you CAN help us."
Discord blinked and thought for a moment. It hit him like a hammerblow. Ofcourse he could help the two. Sure he could not cast any spells ON them but he could cast spells FOR them. He nodded.
With a snip of his fingers, the cell around them changed. There were two beds, a fireplace, a fridge filled with food and a cabinet full of medical supplies. Even a bookshelf with several medical references was summoned by his spell.
"There. Will that be sufficent for now?"
"Well..."
Rarity prodded the floor in front of her with a hoof, clearly uncomfortable that she had accused him before, and now accepting his generosity. She had something on her mind, but didn't want to ask for more.
"Come on. While I am here, is there something else?"
"Well... can you seal that door so they can't get in here again? Also a... shower would be nice..."
Discord looked at the Unicorn in disbelief, and broke out in laughter. With another snip of his fingers, the door to the cell disappeared completly, leaving only a stone wall in it's place. He wouldn't set them free just yet. It wouldn't be good. both mares were clearly in no state to make an escape, nor to fight their way through the dungeons.
Rarity looked up at the Draconis, a tear in her remaining eye.
"Thank you, Discord... Now be on your way... the others will need you more then we do..."
Discord nodded and disappeared into the wall again, but not before hugging the now standing Unicorn and assuring her that everything would be fine. Discord made his was through the dungeon. Cell for Cell he searched. He was eager to find his friend. He was smart, and he had already formed a plan on how he could help the elements of harmony. HE could not cast a spell on them....
He found Pinkie Pie, and Twilight Sparkle in another cell. The elements seemed to be the only occupants of the dungeon, which seemed a big waste of space for him. It was huge, but no other cell he had seen, had been occupied. After providing the two mares with everything they asked for, and also sealing their cells door, he removed the torture belt from Twilight Sparkle. The silencer was beyond what he could do, since it would involve casting a spell on her directly, and he could still see a shimmer of distrust in her eyes. What stroke him as odd however, had been Pinkies request to him. She wasn't as bubbly and energetic as usual, but had asked him for weights for training, and tramplers of the kind the royal guard wore on their hooves. He had shrugged and summoned the items for her, even so he hoped that his favorite after Fluttershy would not actually try to fight the Changelings.
After a few more hours of looking into each cell, Discord finally discovered the mare he had been looking for. She lay in the corner of her cell, her coat dirty from dried blood. She was sleeping obviously. In another corner, there were some animals resting on a shallowly breathing skyblue Pegasus he also knew. From the stink of rot and the dried wings, that hang in a corner of the room, he could deduct what must have happend here. For some reason unknown to him, Rainbow Dash had torn off her wings. He shivered at the thought. Both mares looked like they had barely gotten any food, and as he touched the sweating Rainbow Dash, he felt that she had high fever. He frowned. This was more then cruel... He could have erased the infection from her body in an instant, had it not been for the restraint Celestia had put on him.
The noise of him moving around, was enough to wake up Fluttershy, who immideatly looked up, ready to defend herself. The look Discord saw in her eyes, made his heart ache. It was one of somepony who had suffered for a verry long time. Now he realized why he hadn't been able to sense her. Her bloodshot eyes rested on him for a moment, and he could see the insanity in her gaze.... Fluttershy.... HIS Fluttershy was still in there somewhere, deep down, but the mare he was looking at right now, was not her. She flinched back as he approached her, like a dog that is cornered by a stronger predator.
"S...Stay back! I... I warn you!"
"Fluttershy... I am so... sorry... I am late... I am so sorry, I couldn't come any sooner...."
"LIES... Illusions! Go away! There is no way you are real! Discord is dead! They told me!"
"No.... Fluttershy... I.... I was turned to stone.... I was not dead....Nopny can return from the dead."
A shimmer of recognition flickered in her green eyes, as he put both his arms around her, hugging her tightly. They stayed like this, for several minutes, before he felt her tremble against his chest. She was crying. Soon Fluttershy returned the hug he gave her, crying her heart out, dampening his furr. Discord stroke her head with his paw, as gently as possible. She told him everything that had happend... She told him that they had tried to trick her with Changelings, disguised as her friends, what had happend to Rainbow, and that they had only provided her with enough medical supplies to bandage her. There was nothing she could do to stop the infection from spreading, so she was doomed to watch her friend die. She had given up food and water rations in favor of Rainbow Dash, but her condition just didn't get any better. She begged him to save her if he could...
"Fluttershy.... Would you be willing to give something up, that is part of you, to save your friend?"
"Eh? Of...Ofcourse!"
"You might loose it forever... I can not promise you, that you will get it back later. I have never done something like this."
"What... What are you talking about Discord."
He sighed... Something he did much more then he liked to admit lately.
"Fluttershy... You will loose your wings. You might never be able to fly again."
"I don't care. I don't like flying anyway! Do what you need to do, if it means saving Rainbow Dash."
Fluttershy had thought that her friend might give her wings to Rainbow Dash, but that wasn't what happend at all. Instead she felt that her wings.... shrank? They pulled back into her body, while her forehead began to hurt abit. There was something... growing there. Her hooves raced up there and felt... a horn? As the pain supsided, she looked at Discord. Her friend had shrunk a little... much to be honest. Discord was now barely her own size.
"What..."
"Oh Fluttershy. I have made you a Unicorn and infused my magical power into you. That caused my... shrinking. But don't worry, I'll be back to normal in time. Now... I think you have some work to do...."
With that Discord began to teach Fluttershy, how to use magic, together with several spells for healing and transfiguaration. She didn't get all of them at her first try, but soon had the hang of it. It was hard for her, to draw in the magical energy, but that was just to be expected. She was a fully grown mare, but had not been born a Unicorn. Sensing the magic all around her all of a sudden, was messing with her senses. But soon enough, she was already treating the infection in Rainbow Dashs body, the skyblue Pegasus floating in the air, held by a golden magical aura.
Discord was pleased that his plan had worked out. Fluttershy was a natural for the use of his magic. Her shyness and selfcontrol, were just what was needed for this kind of thing. She meassured every single strand of energy carefully, before releasing it. After the skyblue Pegasus floated gentle back to the ground, and opend her eyes, the mare looked at Fluttershy, her muzzle dropping open.
"Fl...F...Fluttershy?"
"Yes Rainbow?"
"You... you..."
"Yeah yeah, she's a Unicorn... Been there, done that, now get over it, it's just the only thing I was able to help you guys..."
"DISCORD?"
Rainbow looked at the.... unusually small Draconis that sat on a soft looking sofa. What was Discord doing here? Why was Fluttershy a Unicorn? And why in the hay was she feeling better? Not quite good again, but much better then before.
"He... he gave me his magic."
Fluttershy said, blushing a little. The intimacy of the act of having part of Discord inside her, being a little emberassing.
"B...But how? And why?"
Discord sighed, waving his paw. He was tired from transfering that much magic to his friend, but explained the situation to the confused Rainbow Dash.
"And THAT is why Fluttershy here was able to fight of your infection. With her natural... well... with her Unicorn abilities alone, she would never have been able to. She has not enough training to draw in enough power. But with my energy inside her, even a spell that would be weak with her own magic, grows verry powerfull. Next up, will be your wings. Come on Fluttershy, envelop her in your magic."
Fluttershy nodded, and did as she was told. Rainbow on the other hoof, tried to protest. Her friend was not yet fully used to the use of magic, so she didn't trust her abilities fully yet. But that was when Discord stepped forward, looking at Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash in turn.
"Well then... Let's get started. You won't be able to fly just yet, give them two or three years, and they should be the same as before."
He said, snipping his fingers. Rainbow felt a warmth run through her body, like nothing she had ever felt before. It surged through her, concentraing on the places, where her wings had been. She felt the scars there heal, and something... from deep inside her.... pushed it's way to the surface. Once she dared to look at the place, where the energy had worked on her, she saw two wings. Small as a foals, but they were there. Discord had made her wings regrow, instead of trying to reattach her old ones. Relucantly she flapped her them, and they were weak, just as she thought. Not at all like she remembered them. These were the wings of a newborn foal, not of a fully grown mare. Just as she turned to snap at Discord for this, she froze. There, in the middle of their cell, Discord stood, a wide grin on his face.... and turned to stone...
"Well... it is better then never being able to fly ever again I guess...."
She thought and turned to Fluttershy. They had to find their other friends, and with Discords magic Fluttershy should be able to do just that....
Chapter 14
Diamond - Ponyfriend
Diamond rushed through the halls of Canterlot castle. The changeling drones she met on her way, all bowed respectfully as she passed. She couldn't have cared less about it at that moment. Just this morning a report, including some of her mothers new "laws", had been brought to her. It was just outrageous! That was going against everything in their bargain. She didn't help her plan this invasion, for things like... THAT!
Her white mane flying in the wind of her own speed, Diamond shoved open the throneroom doors. Her mother was standing at the far end of the room, watching Canterlot from one of the windows. She didn't even turn around when her daughter rushed in without knocking.
"Good morning to you, Diamond. How are you today?"
"Oh mother, don't you dare faking, that you don't know what I am here for."
"The decree?"
"Yes."
Chrysalis turned around to look at her daughter. Her face was cut a little thinner and she had to admit, that even by pony standarts, her daughter could be considered beatiful. She sighed. There had been so many upcoming queens in the hive over the years, but she had killed them all to ensure her rule. Why in the world, had she let Diamond live? She would never know....
"So, what about it?"
Chrysalis inquired, as she sat down on the throne that Celestia had used only a month before. She already knew what was coming... She already had anticipated this meeting, ever since she had laid down the new laws. Her daughter always had been too soft, for her taste.
"Mother, this is wrong! You want to confine Ponies in camps, and have them live a lie through your mindcontrol, and our drones powers, so you can harvest their emotions! This isn't what we agreed on!"
"What we.... Oh!.... Diamond, you must be aware of your situation. I am the acting queen. YOU on the other hoof are only alive, because I felt like it."
"And I have served you well over the years, have I not mother? This whole invasion would have been an utter failure, had it not been for my plan to infiltrate all towns with our agents. Replacing officals and guard captains.... As I know you, you would have just charged in as you tried so often in the past!"
Chrysalis's eye twitched a little at her daughters words. The implication was easy to understand. Diamond was telling her, that she was more intelligent then her. That moment, Chrysalis would have loved nothing more, then to just rip Diamonds head of, and be done with it, but she couldn't do that... There were those amongst her generals who agreed with her, and that could verry well come back to bite her flank. All she was now worried about was, if it would be able to take a piece out of her.
Chrysalis inhaled deeply, to calm herself. No, there would be a time and place to get rid of Diamond, but for the time being, she still needed the intelligent little brat. She hated to admit it to herself, but her daughter was right... she was more intelligent then her.... and in a way, that made her both valuable, and dangerous to Chysalis...
"So what would you say I should do, my daughter? Release the mindcontrol and try to get the Ponies to love us, while thousands of us may starve?"
"We do not starve that quickly and you, out of everychangeling else, should know that it's doable! We wouldn't have to suffer casualties, since we queens can go for years without absorbing feelings, while our drones can survive several months!"
"In a state of hibernation, Diamond. We'd have to hibernate to do something like that, or atleast most of our forces would have to. With Celestia still on the run, and the elements of harmony still alive, I can NOT even consider such a thing. They would slaughter us in our cocoons, while Equestria is taken from us once again."
"But that wasn't...."
"What we agreed upon, I know Diamond!"
Chrysalis's tone was now just a growl, since she was already loosing her cool again. What was Diamond thinking? This discussion felt WRONG! It would be something the royal pony sisters might have done, but SHE was the sole ruler. Diamond, while being a queen in status, didn't rule side by side with her. Her daughter was a mere consultant! She should teach that larva a lesson, just so she knew her place...
"And what about the elements? Their bearers are still missing! Their cells have vanished, and you even stopped having that Alicorn raped, mother. She may be in a bad shape, but you can STILL set things right! She IS the Princess of love, for the hives sake! If we could persuade her...."
"That MULE is of no use to us. I didn't stop her punishment out of mercy, Diamond. I stopped it, because her healer was killed. She has killed one of my chosen and it is to dangerous for anychangeling, to go near her. She has lost it, and even somehow managed to break her chains. The only ones safe to go in there right now, would be you or me. But that is out of the question. She will recieve her meals, and that is it. Shall the "Princess of love" rot away in the dungeons...."
"But mother... We are..."
"ENOUGH!"
Chrysalis finally snapped. She wouldn't take any more of this.
Diamond didn't flich, when Chrysalis advanced on her. They were both queens, and therefore equally matched. The reason her mother had reigned for as long as she had, was simply because there had been nochangeling to challenge her, since she killed the newborn queens, once they had hatched.
"This has gone on long enough... You will go and complete the tasks I gave you, or do you maybe want to try and take the control over the hive from me?"
Diamond hung her head and left the room. She COULD have fought Chrysalis, but she didn't want to, if she was honest to herself. She had been the one to form the plan for the invasion, even so her mother had NOT heeded the plan to the word. In her version, it would have been a swift one, with no pony or Changeling or Pony getting hurt, but her mother had changed ever since her defeat during the Canterlot wedding. Back then, every drone had been important to her. She had mourned every single one that got hurt, or killed. Only other queens, had ever felt her wrath... But ever since the mass breeding, for this invasion had begun, she only cared for a few chosen ones of her underlings. Those ones she called her "chosen".... Differntly from the better times in the hive, she remembered, all of those had names, while the normal drone didn't have that luxery. Diamond looked out of one of the windows on her way to the dungeons.
Memories rained down on her. Memories of a loving mother... every drone bearing a name....
"What has happend to you.... mother?"
Diamond broke her gaze away from the window and shook her head. She had made up her mind. This had gone on long enough. Taking revenge on those who hurt you, was all well and good, but there was a thing as going too far.
Cadence was sitting in her cell, just having finished her breakfast. Her thoughts were a haze of different emotions, and this was one of the few times she was able to think clearly, keeping her emotions under control. She suspected that it had to do with the other changes she had gone through. Her pink furr had almost completly fallen out... her skin beneat was now turning grey and black in places. Cadence just didn't know what was going on anymore. Over the last few weeks, she had suffered greatly, and she had chalked those physical changes to her stress at first, until she had the oportunity to speak with the Changeling coming to her every evening. He had told her what these changes were... He had tried to help her... but she had, somehow, killed him. She didn't know what had happend herself. One moment, she was talking calmly to him, the next he lay on the floor, his head split in two. Her chains had been gone, and she could feel lingering magic in the air, but her horn was still silenced, so... it couldn't been her, could it?
Besides... the magical aura she had felt was twisted, and insane.... even so there had been small traces of her own magic in it, she couldn't bring herself to believe she had killed somepony that had wanted to help her get better.
The door to her cell swung open, and Cadence looked up, a little confused. For almost a week now, nopony had come into her cell. Only the food was delivered through a small catdoor, on the bottom of the door. As her eyes adjusted to the bright light shining into her cell, she saw the outline of...
"CHRYSALIS!"
Weak and sick as she felt, Cadence sprung to her hooves, holding her head down while charging at the Changeling Queen. She might not be able to use any magic, but her horn would still be able to impale her opponent. But before she could reach her, she was enveloped in a gentle aura of pale white magic. The feelings she sensed in this magic, where not agressive in the slightest. It was... pitty? Regret? Sympathy?
"Wait! I am not here to hurt you."
Cadence stopped struggeling in the telekinetic grip. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the light, she inspected her visitor a little closer. It surely was a fully grown Changeling queen, but it wasn't Chrysalis, as she had thought at first. Her chitine coate was a lighter shade of black, her mane and tail pure white like winter snow. Also her features where a little different. She almost looked... beautiful.
"Who are you?"
"My name, is Diamond, and I have come to talk to you. Can I trust, that you will not try to hurt me, when I release my magic?"
Cadence thought for a moment, her emotions already welling up again, but she did her best to supress them. If Diamond wanted to talk, she might be able to get usefull information out of her. She couldn't pass that chance. Cadence nodded.
Gently, she was put back on the ground, before the magic around her fizzled away.
"So what does a Changeling queen, want to talk to me about? Do you want to offer me your conditionless surrender?"
Cadences words had been ment to mock the queen, but to he disappointment, she didn't take the bait. Diamond thought for a moment, before she nodded, which left Cadence in utter shock. Her eyes were wide as saucers, and her muzzle hang open.
"What? You can't be serious!"
"Oh, but I am serious, but please hear me out before we get out of here. There are alot of things you must know."
Cadence nodded, still a little in shock that Diamond wanted to surrender to her.
"My name, you already know." , Diamond started as she settled down and gestured for Cadence do the same. The Cell door standing wide open all the while. As the Alicorn settled down on the floor, oposite of her, she continued.
"I am a Changeling Queen, which you also already know, but what you DON'T know is, that I have no real power within the hive. All power I wield, is given to me by Chrysalis. Usually there can be only one queen in a hive, so they have to fight each other to determine who is the fittest... Chrysalis has always feared that a queen more powerfull then her might hatch, so she killed the larvas that turned out to be queens, before they were fully grown. I on the other hoof was spared for some reason, and until now I have never made her regret it. It was me who forged the invasion plans on Equestria...."
Cadence opend her mouth to say something, but Diamond just continued over her...
"But Chrysalis has not followed my plan completly. If she had, you wouldn't be in here, nor would you be in a state like this. In MY plan, nopony nor Changeling was supposed to be hurt or killed. But Chrysalis has changed recently. I think it might be the power that went to her head.... I can sense a simliar insanity in you aswell, but for you I can do something, for her I can't, unless I was willing to strike her down.... Which might be for the best for the hive...."
Cadence continued to listen, devouering every word.
"So... you know what is wrong with me?", she finall asked.
"Ofcourse... it is a phenomenan that is rarely observed, since Changelings usually don't mate with other races. Usually, you would be dead by now, if I am honest. Our bodyfluids are pure poison for ponies. But you are an Alicorn. You might not be a full Alicorn, like Celestia and Luna, but that still makes your body more resistant to poisons and sickness. Celestia and Luna can't get sick, while your immunity is raised considerably by you being a half Alicorn."
Cadence blinked. "Half Alicorn? What do you mean? I AM an Alicorn!"
Diamond sighed...
"I could explain you now how I broke into Celestias private study, and found some verry interesting documents, but I can sense the mistrust in you. Unless she herself confirms what I say, you won't believe me, one way or another."
"So... you said you could do something for me?"
"You are currently experiencing a turmoil of emotions. It's hard for you to control them. I, as a queen, can steal those emotions from you, and with them the painfull memories that cause them. I can not however, revert the change your body is going through... That is beyond my powers."
"Wait... what change?"
"Your a half Alicorn. Since it can't "fight" the poison in your system, it is trying to absorb it. You are slowly turning into a Changeling yourself, in appearance atleast. I can't tell what that change will do to you otherwise, but once it is completed, you will look like a Changeling queen, just like I am one."
"So... you were once a PONY?"
"No way... I was hatched in the hive. I told you, you will LOOK like one, you won't actually be one. So do you want me to take away your memories of your painfull experiences, or do you continue to suffer until you get over them?"
Cadence was hesitant, and didn't trust Diamond completly yet, but thous far, she could have killed or tortured her several times over, so she decided to give her a chance to proove herself to her. She nodded.
Diamond was reliefed when the Alicorn Princess gave her the permission, to take away all the painfull memories she had made during these last few weeks. Relucantly, she let her horn flash with her pale white magic, scanning and extracting the memories from the Alicorns mind. Her digestive system would have a hard time with those, which is why she hated doing it, but this time she would endure the pain that came with it. What she hadn't told the Princess was, that she would have to relive all of those memories, while her body processed them.... A reason queens usually only took pleasurable memories...
After a few minutes, Cadance opend her eyes, and could think clearly again. Strange enough, she felt much better then before. She didn't even remember why she had been so angry and hurt in the first place. But there were... gaps in her memories, she couldn't explain.
"You will get used to it. Extracting memories is hard on the mind. Just don't try to recall them, and you'll be fine."
Diamond said, panting heavily. Cadence, who was finally able to think straight without having to control her emotions, blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.
"What about Shining Armor, Twilight Sparkle, Celestia, Luna and the elements of harmony?"
"They... Actually I don't know... I know Luna has been captured, but there is nothing I can do to help her. Chrysalis has put up a barrier around her prison, that only lets her through."
"But..."
"Listen, Princess. I can bring you out of here. The guards have left the dungeon on my order. I can tell you the rest on the way to safety."
"Safety?"
"There is a resistance movement, led by Celestia and the children of the night. I will bring you to them. What you do with me afterwards, is up to you."
The queen pressed forward between gasps for air. The procedure had clearly taken alot from her.
"Alright. Let's get out of here, but you will explain, what I want to know!"
With that, the Princess and her "prisoner" made their way out of the dungeons. They didn't meet any Changeling guards, nor any mindcontrolled Ponies on the way. Leaving Canterlot itself, was easy, once they had left the dungeon, since Diamond removed the silencer on Cadences horn. After a quick discussion on what to do, they decided that Cadence would teleport them as close to their destination, as she could. She was a little surised when Diamond asked her to bring them to the borders of Ponyville, but she didn't complain. The Changeling had freed her, and was clearly enduring a great amount of pain from having absorbed her own insanity.... She owed her atleast that much trust.
Coming out of the teleport spell, Cadence had to support Diamond, who had gotten worse by the second. Seeing her condition, she suddenly doubted that it really was something the queen did regulary. Absorbing memories instead of feelings... She had actually never heard of something like it.
"Cadence?"
A sudden call from the other side of a multicolored barrier, snapped Cadence out of her thoughts. There stood Celestia, her pastel mane flowing in a non-existent breeze, with a Unicorn mare standing next to her.
Celestia could not believe her eyes. It had been four days, since she and Moonsinger had arrived in Ponyville, and had made preparations for the next attack, when the mayor had asked the princess to inspect the barrier. She and Moonsinger had set out to do just that, but only moments after reaching it's edges, she saw the bright pink light of a teleportation spell being completed. The magical aura she felt, also felt familiar. A glance in it's direction had revealed... Princess Cadence, or atleast what was left of her. She looked like she was in a bad shape, but Celestia instantly knew what was going on. She had seen such a thing before.... What utterly suprised her however, was the other figure, that Cadence was supporting, by having it wrap one of it's forelegs around her shoulder. It was a Changeling queen....
Celestias eyes began to burn with anger, as she charged right through the barrier, momentarily loosing control over herself, she wanted to make this creature pay for what it's kin had done... surely on IT'S orders...
She never reached her target though. Something slammed into her side and knocked her to the ground.
Moonsinger recognized the Changeling queen, that other Alicorn had brought with her. It was Diamond. Once... A few hundred years ago, she had tried to establish peacefull connections with the garden. It had almost worked too, but Chrysalis had interfered, rendering all their negotiations pointless. Sometimes Moonsinger thought, it would have been best, if Diamond led the swarm. They would be much more peacefull if she did....
"What are you doing Moonsinger? Let me go! It's a queen!"
"Calm down Celestia! I know her!"
Now Cadence also postioned herself between Celestia and Diamond.
"Celestia, this is Diamond. Had it not been for her, I wouldn't be free. She helped me escape, and she surrendered to me. Chrystal Empire law says, that NOPONY is to be harmed if he or she surrenders."
"But... But...."
Celestia stammered, her anger being overwhelmed by confusion and relief of seeing Cadence was relativly unharmed.
"Celestia, she has surrenderd to ME. Which means, to the Chrystal Empire. You have no right to harm a prisoner of war, made by another country."
Celestia sighed in defeat.
"Alright... have it you way."
She got up, and freed herself from Moonsinger, who had bitten down on her tail, to make sure her aunt wouldn't hurt Diamond. After a few seconds, in which both Princesses gave each other a stern look, they hugged and cried in relief. Both were glad to see each other again.
After a while, a hole in the barrier was opened, so Diamond could be brought in. Cadence ordered, that she was not to be harmed, and not to be imprisoned. Instead a room in the Hay an oats hotel, was to be prepared for her, with two guards standing watch. Not so much as to keep her confined, but to keep her prisoner from being harmed by others.
Two hours later
Celestia and Cadence sat in the libraries reading room, while Moonsinger had returned to the garden, to organize things there. Spike had prepared both of them a mug of hot herbal tea, before returning to his room.
"So what do you plan now? You can't possibly trust that Changeling. I mean, I am the first one to give anypony a second chance, but..."
"She hasn't even had a first chance with you yet Celestia. You judge her by the experiences you made when dealing with Chrysalis. Diamond is nothing like her."
"So what will you do now?"
"I will return to the Chrystal empire, taking Diamond with me. I leave the search for Shining Armor and the elements of harmony to you, and aunt Lunas children."
"So you are abandoning Equestria? And besides, what if your Empire is also overrum by them? What will you do then?"
"Diamond has assured me, that the invasion of the Chrystal Empire failed. There have been great casulties though, so they will need me to reorganize and rebuild everything."
"So you ARE abandoning us..."
"No Celestia, I am NOT abandoning you, or anypony. I still have a score to settle with Chrysalis myself, and I intend to do just that. Once I am back in the empire, I will mobilize any willing pony for it's defense and Equestrias freedom. This is the land my husband and I grew up in, and I am not leaving it to suffer under Chrysalis's hooves!"
"So you will help us... that atleast is reassuring. But do you really have to take HER with you? What if she changes her mind, and decides to impersonate you instead? Then we will wait here for reinforcements, that will never come!"
"You do not have to worry about her, Celestia. She has surrenderd to me, and even has removed my hornlock. But tell me, she also told me, YOU could tell me something about the condition my body is in. She said you knew something, that nopony else does."
Invuluntarely, Celestia touched the necklace she wore, before looking up at Cadence.
"Yes... I do know something about it. But do you really want to hear it?"
"Yes."
"Ok... I seem to reveal my secrets more often then any time I can remember lately, anyway.... For what your condition is, you must understand how the Changelings came to be, and you must know about the fourth race..."
Celestia sighed, and looked out of a window before continuing.
"Thousands of years ago, there was a fourth tribe. The Alicorns... They were emotionally unstable and could eventually get corrupted, if they didn't keep their emotions under control. What happens when an Alicorn gets corrupted, is best explained by taking Nightmare Moon as an example... Luna was corrupted, by her jeaslousy and the fear for her children. That can happen to any full Alicorn. Anyhoof... Like Cutiemarks mark a ponies special talent, for Alicorns they marked what part of nature they were linked to. It was a peacefull tribe, until the first corruptions... They started to wage war against one another and other tribes aswell. Soon the non-corrupted Alicorns were a minority, and had to resort to desperate measures. They sacrificed themself, and created the elements of harmony, out of their souls. The last surviving six of them, then wielded them against the corrupted Alicorns. Their souls were sealed within the seventh element. Maybe it is unfair to call it that, but I still do..."
She pointed at her necklace.
"This is the Alicorn stone. When the Elements were discovered by Princess Platinum, back when I was a filly, this stone lay with them. The purpose of that had been, to let the elements of harmony seal the souls of the Alicorns for eternity, but it didn't work out.... The elements were used by Platinum once, even though I don't know for what purpose. Maybe she just did it for study, or out of curiosity, I wouldn't know... However... she used the seventh element together with the main six. It resulted in one single soul, being released out of the Alicorn element. It didn't find a host right away, and supposedly didn't want Platinum, so it merged with a bee... And that was the birth of Chrysalis... Chrysalis herself is nothing more, as one of the corrupted Alicorns of old, whos form and behaviour has changed due to her merging with a bee. How it came to be, that they feed of emotions, I can only theorize of. I guess she needs them to feed her corrupted self, while the creatures she spawns, actually need them to live."
"Platinum did never once warn anypony about it, since I think she didn't know what she had caused... She always was a bit naive when it came to magic.... However, when Luna and I used the elements, two more souls escaped. It was then that these souls changed us into Alicorns. Into FULL Alicorns. Different from a bee, who has no conciousness of it's own, we wrestled down the foreign wills that tried to overtake us. I discovered what had caused this invasion into our beings, and decided that, even so the elements are needed to defend Equestria, the Alicorn stone shall never be used along with them. That is why I still wear it. I want nopony to endure the same fate, as Luna and me."
"But why didn't MY ascention..."
"Because you are an ascendet Alicorn, not a full one. You are not immortal, and will never have to deal with the emotional hurricane, Luna and I have to deal with. However, your condition might change that. It might come the day when it will get hard to control your emotions. That is all thanks to your transformation. Are you a half Alicorn now, you will be three quarters one, once it is done... I am terribly sorry, but there is nothing I can do, to reverse the process, or halt it. Your body will continue to embrace the poison, and maybe at one point even start to ask for it...."
"What do you...?"
"It might overcome you to consume Changeling body fluids, that is what I mean. You might encounter symptoms, simliar to drug withdrawl..."
"Then it's good I take Diamond with me...."
Celestia sighed. She had hoped that the revelation of the elemets role in Chrysalis's birth, and the story about the Alicorns of old would make Cadence stay, so she could watch over her, but it was no use. Cadence really had grown into the role of a ruler, and was now not sitting there with her as part of her family, but as an embassador....
Chapter 15
Shock - awakening
The stallion felt exhausted, even so he had just woken up. His eyes felt heavy, and he did not know where he was. All his thoughts were hazy and confused, while he tried to remember something as essential as his own name. Then it finally came to him....
"My name... is Shining Armor... captain of the royal guard... Unicorn devison...."
But why was he where he was? And where was he in the first place? He couldn't remember. His whole body ached, as if he had tried to run a marathon. The air around him smelled sweet, but still a little sour. Everything was warm, and cozy.... He wanted to go back to sleep, but then a female voice adressed him. He had to really concentrate, to hear what it was saying, but understood it eventually.
"So you have finally awoken, in your sleep you have much spoken. You were hurt pretty bad, your sister would be verry sad."
Then it came to him like a lightning bolt. He jolted up, his eyes wide open.
"Twilight! Cadence!"
Shining Armor clutched his right flank, only to find it bandaged. A few steps away, a zebra mare stood with her back to him, while she was stiring the contents of a giant pot with a wooden spoon.
"Who... are you?"
She turned around to face him. Her mane was styled in a way he had never seen before, also could he not make any sense of her Cutiemark.
"I am Zecora do not fear, to heal you I am here. When I found you, you were bleeding. Couldn't eat for weeks without spoonfeeding."
As his heartbeat accelerated, it all came back to him. The invasion, the fight with Chrysalis, the escape through Everfree...
He remembered these last few moments, before he had passed out from bloodloss and exhaustion. His barrier had fallen, and the Changelings had come, charging right at him. But then... something had been poured over him, and the Changelings just passed him, as if he wasn't even there. One of them actually had bumped into him, looking confused.
"But... how come they didn't kill me?"
The Zebra chuckled, and pointed a hoof at a bottle on one of the rooms many shelfs. On it, was here Cutiemark.
"That substance carries my scent, for protecting others it is ment. Changelings would never do me ill, Chrysalis it would kill. They rely on their noses verry much, so I could save you with this liquids touch."
"So, I guess I have to thank you for saving my life, but why do the Changelings leave you alone? Why would Chrysalis kill the Changeling that dared to harm you? And what about the Princesses?"
"Chrysalis owes me her life, I hoped she would for peace now strife. Luna and Celestia reached the garden, more I won't say, I beg your pardon. Moonsinger will be here soon, you will leave before the setting moon."
"Who is Moonsinger?"
"Moonsinger is your Princesses daughter, to the Changelings she will bring the slaughter. I pitty the ones she will meet, for all that awaits them is defeat."
"Daughter? Princess Celestia has no daughter."
The Zebra chuckled and shook her head.
"It is Luna I do mean, it's no wonder you havn't seen. Moonsinger is faithfull and has an ideal, but there are hard things she has with to deal."
Shining Armor thought for a moment. So this Moonsinger was coming to get him, and take him somewhere. If this Zebra trusted her, then that should be good enough for him. She had saved his life afterall.
"So where will this Moonsinger fellow take me? Is there even a safe place left in all of Equestria?"
"I will say no more, there is somepony at the door."
With that, Zecora simply ignored any more questions Shining Armor threw after her. He didn't know what to make of it, but then again, he didn't really have a right to complain. She DID save his life, so he shouldn't let his eagerness to learn what had happend while he was out, disturb her work.
When the door swung open, Shining armor saw nothing but blackness, until two eyes came into view that shone like the moon itself. For a moment he thought that he was facing princess Luna, but it was a light brong Unicorn mare that entered the room, with dark brown ears and a cresent moon Cutie....
"WHAT?"
He excalaimed, pointing a hoof at Moonsingers flank. She snorted, and threw him an annoyed glare, before adressing Zecora respectfully.
"Is it ready master Zecora?"
"Yes indeed, I have a bottle of what you need."
"But... I have to tell you something... I might have to use my special talent verry soon."
The Zebra was so shocked, she almost let the bottle she was about to hoof over to Monnsinger fall to the ground. With a stern look, she faced the mare while placing the bottle in her saddlebags, instead of hoffing it to her.
"Never you must make this mistake, only destruction will be in your wake. Never stop taking your potion, or dark things you set in motion!"
Moonsinger flinched at her teachers stern face. She had learned alot from Zecora, but she had never seen her this.... worried? Yes, there was not hint of anger in her eyes, but only worry. After a few moments the two discussed the transport of the injured guard captain. Moonsinger had known of his whereabouts the night after her mother had returned to the garden, but had not told anypony since even her friend and teacher was uncertain of his survival. Now however, he seemed to have recovered enough to accompany her to the garden. She trotted over to him, extending a hoof in greeting.
"So you are Shining Armor, huh? I can't wait to see Goldshields face when she sees your actually alive."
"Goldshield? Is she ok? What about the other guards and the Princesses?"
Monnsingers face darkend.
"Your other comrades are fine.... They await you in the garden. Celestia is.... in Ponyville and our mother...."
"Mother?"
"Yes... well... you might call her Princess Luna, but for us, she is our dear mother."
"So what about Princess Luna? Is she hurt? Has anything happend to her, and if so is there a rescue being planned? If not we have to get on it right away!"
Moonsinger smiled. She had never seen any of the other daylight Ponies react that way, when her mothers danger was mentioned.
"Maybe they really do have changed."
She thought to herself before answering the flood of questions, the other Unicorn was now directing at her.
"Yes, something did happen to her... We don't know if she is ok, or if she is hurt. No we don't have a rescue operation going right now, but we are working on it. At the moment, the Changelings outnumber us too much, so we have to free other towns, to raise our numbers. Yes I would like to charge right into Canterlot myself, and bust her out, but that is not possible at the moment. The elements of harmony? As far as our information goes they were captured, but have somehow... escaped? We don't know for sure. All we know is that their cells actually disappeared. Even our source couldn't tell us more then that. Yes we are looking for them. Princess Cadence? Well she is in Ponyville. She arrived this morning. But can we please get going? I want to get to the garden before moon set, so I can get some sleep during the day for a change. My sleeping rythm is all out of synch!"
Shining Armor tilted his head.
"Sleep during the day?"
"Oh! Yeah... there is no way of you knowing this, but now come on, let's be on our way. I can explain to you while we walk."
With that, Shining Armor got to his hooves unsteadily, and soon collapsed to his knees without being able to take a single step. Throwing a glance over at Zecora, Moonsinger sighed and levitated him at her side.
"I guess I'll just have to carry you then. Zecora is not really used to long term visitors, and she's already getting all grumpy."
"Grumpy I am not getting, but sleeping on the floor is upsetting!"
Moonsinger chuckled. She knew exactly where to push to get her teacher to snap.
"Verry well then master, we will go now. Thank you again for taking care of my problem."
"It is nothing I may say, but begone now it soon is day."
A few minutes later
Moonsinger was trotting quietly through the forest, while levitating Shining Armor beside her. The stallion was impressed that she was able to hold his weight this long, and she didn't even start to break a sweat.
"So... what was that problem you were talking about back there? Has it to do with your special talent and that potion?"
"Well... I guess since you saw the exchange, I can't deny it. But I must ask you to keep it a secret. Yes this is a potion to supress my special talent. Before I came to know master Zecora, I caused quite a fuss with it every now and then, since I have problems controling it. But ever since I started to study under her, and taking this potion, my live has been relativly normal."
"What is your special talent then?"
"That buddy, is none of your buisness!"
She snapped at him.
"But I am a royal guard. I need to know, since that Zebra mentioned it might be dangerous!"
Moonsinger sighed. She had hoped he hadn't heard that part of the conversation.
"I... control the moonlight, whenever I sing..."
"The.. moonlight? So basicly the same as princess Luna? That would explain your Cutiemark then."
"No... I.... hurt ponies with it. Whenever I sing..."
She looked up at the full moon.
"... the moons rays get concentrated on the area I am in... They start piercing everything around me. I can't control WHAT or WHO they hit, but they do... In the past I always left the garden, when the urge to sing became overwhelming. You see, if you don't use your special talent in a long time, you get an irresistable urge to do it... I hurt some of my best friends when I discovered my special talent, while singing in a school play. I never want to see that happen again!"
"But... that kind of power..."
"Is only for Alicorn? Well your right, it is."
Shining Armor looked at Moonsinger, dumbstruck. Again he inspected her body, but there were no wings to be found.
"But you..."
"Have no wings, exactly. But there are actually three ways of becoming an Alicorn. One of them is, if your magical ability is too strong, for your body to handle, so it naturally ascents into that of an Alicorn. That potion is also dampening my magical ability. I don't know why exactly, but supposedly I am the first Unicorn, or anypony for that matter, that doesn't want to become an Alicorn. There are just too many risks involved, so I dampen my own magic, to keep my body from changing."
"But isn't that dangerous? I mean drugging your body like this."
"True... It is painfull at times and there ARE sideeffects, but I won't discuss them with you. My lovelife surely is no danger to your princess."
Shining Armor looked her right in the eye to see if she was serious, but other then a slight blush, he didn't see anything there. She wasn't lying about the "sideeffects" being none of his buisness. Clearing his throat he tried to change the subject to a less emberassing topic.
"So.. ehm... What is that garden you keep talking about?"
Moonsingers eyes brightend.
"It is the most beautiful place you can imagine. It is inside a barrier our dear mother created over one thousand years ago. I was one of the first ones to...."
Moonsinger went on, describing the garden to Shining Armor, and explaining the barriers effect on it's inhabitants. He couldn't help but smile, when she described everything to him. It sounded like the perfect place to live, to him. Soon he had also understood why they called princess Luna, their dear mother. His smile widend. What Moonsinger told him, sounded exactly like the Princess Luna he had come to know. His mind trailed off to a night, shortly after Lunas return from the moon.
The Princess of the night had stood on the observation tower, after having raised the moon, when Shining Armor had found her. She was looking over Equestria, and tears were glistening in the corners of her eyes.
"What's wrong princess? Are you hurt?"
She had had turned around, looking a bit startled, that somepony was there with her.
"No... ehm... We are just... thinking."
"Alright your highness. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to let me know."
He had turned around, to complete his tour, but the Princess had called out to him.
"If..... if you don't mind... would you mind talking with us for a while? We have been away for a thousand years... We know nothing of this world."
They in fact had talked all night, without him noticing. He had told her all about the modern Equestria, while she told him of friends she had a thousand years ago, that were now long dead. She told him of Starswhirl the bearded, and Clover the clever, princess Platinum and general Stormwind.... When the sun had finally risen at the horizon, the princess had thanked him. After that, they had talked almost every night, until, one night, the princess had not been on the observation tower.
"Armor?"
A familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts. As he looked up, a tearfull Goldshield was already charging right at him, knocking him out of Moonsingers magical embrace, and right to the floor.
"Wha.... Goldshield! Stop that... ouch!"
The earthpony mare first hugged him, and when she had been sure it was really him, risen her foreleg and gave her friend and fellow captain a hard smack to the face.
"How DARE YOU! I thought you were DEAD! Where have you been you useless numbskull? WHERE?"
She cried in his chest as she kept shouting, until Moonsinger seperated the two with her magic.
"Now, now Goldshield. If I didn't know any better, I would think you had a crush on Shining Armor. Let the poor guy rest. Some of the enforcers can take him to Sagitarius, since there is the closest hospital."
Whiping her face with one hoof, and blushing slightly, Goldshield nodded. Moonsinger waved a group of enforcers to her side, who took the injured Shining Armor between them. Even when they left for Sagitarius, Goldshield never once left his side.
"She really acts like she is his marefriend.... But isn't he married to that princess Cadence?"
Moonsinger wondered. Here in the garden, marriages were a little different from the outside world, that she knew. Monogami was actually pretty rare. Most married cuples had lovers. Her gaze followed the group of leaving ponies, as she shook her head. Inside the garden, things like this were ok, but outside, most ponies would surely not tolerate such a thing. Moreover, his wife was a princess. Not that it would have mattered to anypony in the garden, that she was, but the fact remained.
Twilight Sparkle and the others sat around a table, Fluttershy had summoned with her newfound magic. As a precaution, they had found out, Discord had not simply made the doors to their cells disappear, but shifted to rooms themself deeper into the mountain of mount Unicornia. Once Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had located Twilight and Pinkie, they had teleported themself into their cell, startling their two friends. But in the end, Fluttershys magic had been able to remove the silencer on Twilights horn. She had then, set to work to find their other friends, and carved paths to them through the rock of the mountain. Applejack, all four legs in casts now, was looking a little sleepy, what Twilight chalked up to the fact that they had given her strong painkillers. The earthpony had been screaming as if they were impaling her, when Fluttershy and Twilight had rebroken the partially healed bones, and set them right. Good for them, the medical supplies Discord had summoned, also contained pain killers and anti biotics.
"So girls... What are we to do now?"
She asked, adressing all five of them. Pinkie Pie, her hair still unusually flat, raied a hoof and slammed it down on the table.
"I say we go out there and make them pay!"
She said, causing all her friends to stare at her in disbelief. That was so unlike the cheerfull party pony, that even Twilight was a little taken aback.
"Now, darling, we can't do that. We might have the elements, thanks to Discord, but we are still only six mares. I think it would be best if we try to find Princess Celestia, and see what we can do afterwards."
"As much as I don't believe I am saying this, I agree with Rarity. I mean, Fluttershy has already confirmed that Princess Luna is kept in the old mines beneath us, but there is just no way we can fight our way there, not with my wings like THIS!"
Rainbow flapped her tiny wings for emphasis.
"But how are we to find the princess? Neither Fluttershys nor my magical senses reach farther then the outskirts of Canterlot, and I can't sense her aura anywhere in the vicinity."
"Well Twi, ah guess we mahbe should not act yet anyway. Look at us. All of us are hurt. Give us some time to heal up."
Applejack said, sounding more then she was mumbling to herself, then adressing any of them.
"Ehm.. I... uh... We should... try to free Princess Luna...if you don't mind."
Fluttershy stated, her face half hidden beneath the table. She clearly was uncomfortable with her new appearance.
"I actually would like that... I mean, if we could find a way to get down there..."
"Wait! There IS a way."
Pinkie of all ponies said.
"We are deep in the mountain now. And Fluttershy said that Luna is not far away from us. In fact, right beneath us! Couldn't you two carve a way into the mines, to the cavern she is in?"
"Actually Pinkie, that is not a bad idea. If we can bust Luna out, then we can fight the Changelings from within Canterlot. Having another spellcaster, alongside me and Fluttershy, wouldn't hurt either."
Twilight gave Rarity a glance. Her friend let her head hang. Fluttershy hadn't been able to let her horn regrow, nor to heal her eye. These injuries had been inflicted by magic, and hers wasn't powerfull enough to heal them... If there was any chance to do so, it would be to wait until Discord broke out of his stone prison once again.
Luna was feeling weaker by the second. Her cell, was now almost filled with pure black magic. The last few sparks of her dark purple Unicorn magic, and her pale white Alicorn magic were slowly fading. Four days, she had not eaten anything, nor had she slept a single second. He mental defenses were crumbling fast, and without access to the moon, she had no means of replenishing her Alicorn mana....
"I told you.... you had your chance... you will be consumed...."
"You... will not succeed..............."
But Luna could feel the dark tendrils of Nightmare Moons mind already enveloping her own. She had lost... She had thrown everything she had against Nightmare Moon, and it hadn't been enough.... With a last scream of agony and defeat, Luna collapsed to her knees, being now completly enveloped in Nightmare Moons black magic, her body began to transform, once again. There was no fighting it. She had done her best, but all she could do now, was preserve her mind. She shall not allow the shadows to devour her. Her mind had to stay seperated from it. If she was eaten... then there was no hope for her anymore....
Nightmare Moon took a deep breath. It felt good to finally be the ruling persona in this body again. Even so it was weakend, it would be more then enough to do what she had in mind. After her escape, she would find that petty insect, and crush her beneath her hooves. A single shread of what was once Princess Luna, remained in her mind, but she didn't care. The Princess might have shielded the last rest of herself against her influence, but no matter how much time she had to recover, would never be able to banish her out of her mind ever again. Not on her own atleast.
She snorted. The elements of harmony... if their bearers were still alive, she would have to find them, to eliminate the threat. With a little bit of concentration, she turned herself into mist, floating through the window in the ceiling of her prison. There stood two Changeling guards, that were startled at her appearance, as she reformed her body. But just as she wanted to crush them for their impudence of imprisoning her, a large chunk of the ceiling fell down upon them. She could not believe her eyes, and stood there in shock for an awkward moment. Out of the hole in the ceiling, came all six bearers of the elements of harmony, wearing their embodiements.
Twilight finished the spell, that had carved the tunnel they intended to use to free Princess Luna, carefull not to destroy to many of the rocks. They would have to close it up after them, if the suceeded. She had insisted they took the elements with them, just in case something happend, which they had not anticipated. And then it happend. The last rock fell, and the six friends, entered the chamber in which they thought princess Luna was imprisoned. Twilight was so shocked at what she saw, that Applejack almost slipped out of her magical grip. Instead of the princess of the night, they had hoped to find, the six were once again, face to face with Nightmare Moon....
Chapter 16
Temptaion or Harmony?
Twilight Sparkle stood, her muzzle agape, seeing that they had come to late. She herself had endured torture, and had seen what Chrysalis had done to her friends. What could she have done to Luna, to make her turn into Nightmare Moon? No, when she was true to herself, she really didn't want to know. She had come to know the princess to the night fairly well, and knew the amount of self control she could rely on. No, she didn't want to know what had broken through that wall of selfcontrol. All that mattered now, was to revert it just as they had done once before.
Nightmare Moon slowly felt feeling return to her limbs. After finally being able to move about freely, it had been quite a shock to directly run into the only ponies that could be a danger for her. She already saw herself, once again, being enveloped by a Rainbow, as she had been two times before. She could almost feel how the elements would tear at her, and how they would slowly push her back into the darkest regions of Lunas mind. Sure, the two Changeling guards would have been no problem, even in her weakend state. Even their queen herself, she felt confident she could defeat. The elements of harmony on the other hoof, they were a completly different story. She had to think, and fast, or all her efforts to retake this body, would have been in vane.
"Twilight Sparke. I would have expected many things, but not to see you here. So, what will you do now? Will you help a fellow pony escape, or will you throw away your only chance to defeat these insects in the hour?"
"Why should we trust you? Release the princess this instant!"
Rarity shouted, while stomping a hoof. Had she been able to use her magic, she would have attacked the vile thing. They had risked detection for this, and had come too late. Why? Why should they trust her?
"Silence, element of generousity! I am talking to your princess. So, Twilight Sparkle? What do you say? We can either fight each other here, while the Changelings alert Chrysalis. She will soon be here, and will find either all of us, weakend, or the victor, close to death. What will it be? Will you fight by my side, for the sake of all of Equestria, or will you take your chance and try to banish me once again?"
"You have never done anything for the sake of Equestria. All you ever wanted was eternal night, and the supreme rule over Equestria. You only want to get rid of Chrysalis, because she is standing in your way. I can feel it, Nightmare Moon. You may have resurected, but you are still weak. It can't be long since you overwhelmed Luna."
Nightmare Moon cursed to herself. Had she faced the old Twilight Sparkle, who was a mere Unicorn, she might have been able to hide her weakend state. This one however, was a fellow Alicorn, with more sensitive magical senses. Could she feel the last drops of what had been Luna? This thought made her take an invulunatry step backwards. If she could, then this would be over before it had even started. She had to know. She had to convince the elements that there was nothing left of their princess in this body.
"Even if you use the elements, all you will accomplish is killing me! Luna is long gone. I have consumed her completly."
"Lies!"
That simple word, made Nightmare Moons heart sink, and it hadn't even come from the Alicorn. The element of laughter pointed an accusing hoof at her instead.
"You are a big lying meanie! Was there nothing left of the Princess, you wouldn't try to convince us of it! You would be at full power, instead of weakend, like Twilight said! What you don't realize yet, Nightmare Moon, is that SHE is messing with your powers from the inside!"
Twilight couldn't believe what Pinkie just had said. Sure, she had been shocked to hear that her mentors sister had been consumed, but she hadn't doubted it. An intelligent being like Nightmare Moon wouldn't leave behind some lingering traces of her, would she? She concentrated her magical senses on the now sweating Alicorn in front of her. She encountered heavy resistance, but as she had felt earlier, NIghtmare Moon was weakend. So much even, that she alone may have been able to overtake her without the elements. Did she not realize in what a shape her own body actually was? She had felt that there was something wrong from the start, but only now realized what it was exactly. Nightmare Moon didn't have the magical muscle she had on their first encounter by far. The fight with Luna must have taken more out of her, then she had actually realized.
But... there was something else. Just as if a there was a dying candle in a completly dark room. As she explored farther, Twilight felt the familiar presence of Luna, struggeling against restrains made of shadows. But the indications that held, were more grim then she would have imagined. Nightmare Moon had not lied about the elements use would mean her death, but it would most likely mean Lunas too. There wasn't enough left of her to survive in this battle worn body... But... what if she was to....
"Alright Nightmare Moon, we won't use the elements on you now...."
The Alicorn relaxed slightly. She had done it. The elements of harmony were on her side. What she would do with them, once Chrysalis was dealt this, was to be seen...
"... but we won't ally ourself with you either!"
Twilights friends who had looked at her in disbelief, now looked at her confused. How were they to deafeat Nightmare Moon without the elements?
Nightmare Moon was about to start the fight, when she felt herself being enveloped by golden magic. She looked at Twilight Sparkle, but there was no magic on her horn. Instead, the shy Pegasus standing behind her... No... no Pegasus, a UNICORN!? She checked and rechecked her memories, but there this mare clearly was a Pegasus. Nightmare Moon tried to free herself from the magical grip, but couldn't. Something was interfering with her drawing in more magical power. Looking inside her own mind, she saw Luna, gripping onto her, confining her in place, making her unable to move. She tried to struggle free, but only now she felt how tired she actually was. Her legendary strength was gone. She didn't understand it.... unless...
"You... have interfered with me?"
"Sure I have. I told you, you would not suceed. I am Princess Luna of Equestria, I told you, AND YOU WILL NOT WIN THIS DAY!"
With that, Nightmare Moon felt another source of magic invading her mind. This one was light purple, enveloping what was left of Luna, and preventing her to to finally get rid of the pest of a princess. Just as she wanted to resist against the invader, it was gone, and so was Luna. Her presence was completly gone from her mind. What had happend? Had she absorbed her finally? No. That wasn't what had happend at all. Nightmare Moon opend her eyes, and froze. All thoughts of resisting, went out of her mind, as two green eyes, glared back at her. Right in front of her, stood...
"Moonlilly....."
She almost spat.
The former Alicorn, stood firm in front of her tormentor. Twilight Sparkles plan, had been ingenius. Enveloping her in her own magic, and ripping her out of the darkness, set her old self free. Princess Luna was no more, for the moment. Instead a Unicorn mare, slightly smaller then the Princess had been, stood in front of the still trapped Nightmare Moon.
"I told you, you will not win, Bloody Shadow."
"I was what made you strong. What are YOU without ME?"
"True. You are what made me an Alicorn in the first place. You are the thing, that made all my friends avoid me. YOU are the one and only thing, that made my FAMILY reject me!"
Before any of the elements of harmony could intervene, the freed Unicorn had grabbed the Alicorns head, and slammed it into the floor. She was angry. For over a thousand years, this demon had tormented her, for over a thousand years. It had made her attack her sister and terrify her subjects. Soon, after repeated slamming her head into the ground, Nightmare Moon, stoped struggeling. Blood was running down her face, while her eyes buldging out.
When Nightmare Moons skull finally cracked, with a sickening crunching sound, Twilight came out of her shock. She enveloped the raging Unicorn unceremoniously in her magic, and dragged her back through the tunnel theyhad come from. Closing it backup behind them, Twilight levitated the group of them back up to her cell. She was still shivering at the display of rage, the other Unicorn had just shown. Maybe it was understandable, but she surely didn't understand why.
When they reached their cell, she set down the other Unicorn, along with her friends. She had not protested when Twilight had grabed her body. Now she faced her, mustering as much sternness in her voice as she could. She was confused. She had wanted to pull out Princess Luna, but had gotted this Unicorn instead. The resemblence was stunning, but her magical aura was not at all what Twilight remembered. It was more gentle, without the underlying emotions, and there was something missing. Also her Cutimark was not a crescent moon, but a blooming lilly instead.
"So, who are you?"
She finally managed to ask.
"My name is Moonlilly, and I am gratefull that you freed me of that demon."
"What do you mean, demon and what happend to Princess Luna?"
"I am Princess Luna... in a way. This is what I looked like before I became an Alicorn.I might ascent again, once my strength has recovered fully, I do not know, but this is the form I was born in."
"Wha...."
This was Applejack, eying the newcomer susiciusly.
"There are three ways to ascendance. The first one, is to use the Alicorn stone. That is how I became one. Your body merges with the soul of one of the Alicorns of old. It is a corrupting influence, but the true self always lays beneath. That is why my magical color always stayed the same, even when I was an Alicorn. Only on verry rare occausions did I call upon my Alicorn powers, which changed it's color to a pale white. The second, is the way you"
She pointed a hoof at Twilight.
"...became an Alicorn. Another Alicorn has to use their magic to make you ascent. The third one, is actually the natural one. I hope my powers are great enough once I have fully recovered, to proceed that way. Even so I like being mortal once again, Equestria does need me as princess of the night in this crisis."
"What... is the natural way? And what is the Alicorn stone? I know of an artifact the Alicorn Amulet, but surely you don't mean that!"
"No, I don't. In fact the third way, will make me ascent if my magical potential is too great for my Unicorn body to handle. To see if that is the case, I will have to replenish my magic, and that could take a while. A week atleast, I would say."
"Verry well..."
Rarity finally recovered her composure.
"So what you are saying basicly, is that every Unicorn can become an Alicorn, aslong as they contain more magic then their Unicorn body can handle?"
"Yes, that is exactly what I mean. You, Twilight Sparkle, would have ascended even without Celestias help before long. But we usually interfere in the fate of somepony, before that happens. Alicorns that ascent through way one and three, will be immortal, full Alicorns.The curse of being immortal, and seeing all of your friends fade away, will drive most ponies into insanity. That is why we interfered and made you a fellow Alicorn, before your natural ascention."
"So you basicly prevented me from becoming immortal?"
Twilight pouted. That ment she was no full fledged princess afterall.
"Yes, and you should thank Celestia for it. Had she not, you, like we, would have been the one to bury each and every one of your friends, without aging so much as a single day."
Twilights anger evaporated. She looked around at her friends, and a smile began to form on her face. Truely she couldn't bear loosing all of them, and being immortal herself. She began to understand, what Celestia had done. After the moment had passed, Moonlilly began to talk once more. This time however, she explained the situation as she knew it. Ponyville had been freed under her command, what got her captured in the first place. In retrospect, she said, it had been a blessing since she now was eternally free of her alter ego.
Afterwards she explained many things. Mostly she filled the friends in on all the details about a place she called, the garden, the children of the night and their relative immortality. The topic she spoke most about however, was a pony called Moonsinger.... The only pony, she said, that she had missed even more then Celestia, during her time on the moon...
Chrysalis stood over the dead body of Nightmare Moon. Her anger was clearly showing. How had the princess of the night died? Her head was cracked open, and pieces of brainmatter were splattered all over the floor. The two guards she had stationed inside her barrier, surely were not responsible for this, for they both looked like they had been crushed under a giants palm. There were traces of lingering magic in the air, but for all she knew, it could have been Nightmare Moons magic. She had never met the crazy Alicorn afterall, and didn't know what it's magical aura would feel like. This was just a disaster.Her plan it had been, to try and convice the Alicorn to join her, or to execute her in public. That stupid mule maybe had commited suicide, when she had noticed that she couldn't get through the barrier she had put up. Chrysalis didn't know, and didn't care either way. The guards had failed her, so they deserved their fate. Nightmare Moon was dead, and therefor no use for her anymore. Her drones would have a her blessing, if they chose to have their fun with the still warm body. What should she care? There were more pressing matters to attent to.
Lately some smaller towns had been starting a revolt. With Diamonds betrayal, and her therefore being the only queen present, she had to manage the mindcontrol of the ponies themself. Her drones could relief her in that to some degree, but not enough to prevent some of the spells from breaking. She had already lost Baltimare to a raid led by Moonsinger, and Dodge City was close to slip out of her grasp. The ponies there, had somehow beaten her control, and were now fighting against their occupants. Ponyville was another matter. The barrier around the city had prevented her drones to sneak in and investigate.
"I should have gotten rid of her, when I had the chance!"
Chrysalis mumbled to herself. She ment her daughter ofcourse. Diamonds betrayal had caused much damage to her cause. More in fact then she had wanted to admit. Even so her drones were loyal to her, some of her generals had always favored Diamond. The shock of her leaving the hive for good, had been enough to all but sabotage the attempt to finally overrun the Chrystal Empire. Preparations had come to a halt, and the general in charge had come all the way back to Canterlot, for an audience with her... All this were delays she could and would not allow anymore. She had killed the impudend general, unceremoniously. In his place, was now one of her chosen ones. A Changeling completly loyal to her and only her.
Celestia stood in the townsquare, organizing the last few troops that had arrived from the garden an hour ago. All of them carried several manacrystals, infused with her sisters magic, with them. It would be a quick campaign she hoped, since none of them could stay outside the garden for too long. But their target destination was almost on the other end of Equestria. Lately a Pegasus from Dodge City had arrived in Ponyville, having heard about the resistance here. He had told them a tail of breaking mindcontrol and resistance groups forming all over the city. They were few, but did their best to sabotage the Changelings. Knowing that Chrysalis's influence was fading, had been what had pressed Celestia to ask Moonsinger for a blatoon of Enforcers. She would lead the charge herself this time, since it was necessary to teleport the whole group of twenty-five-thousand enforcers, close to the city. Would they try to reach it on hoof, their sparks would be weakend way to much when they arrived, and some of them may be too weak after the battle to make the journey back.
Moonsinger had been hesitant to agree to this, but Celestias wounds had almost completly healed and there was no doubt, they needed every ally they could get. She herself would not be able to leave the garden for a while, since the taking of her potion weakend her to much, and the internal affairs of the garden had to be dealt with aswell. There may be a war going on, but still she had to deal with ressource management, and teach classes. The Luna temple, the school for Unicorns born in the garden, was her domain after all. There were qualities she looked for in the students, and finding those had priority...
Chapter 17
Solar Flare
It was nighttime , when the drone had went to his post. Guard duty was one of the more boring tasks around Dodge City. He had thought that, being stationed here, would prove to be an easy deployment. The City had been taken swiftly and all the Ponies had been taken by their mindcontrol. before they had been able to fight back. But lately.... All the raids by the ponies who had broken their mindcontrol, had become a real pest. Destroying food supplies, ment for the harvesting camps, ambushing their messangers and patrols.... It was more then annoying. Only due to that fact, they had now increased the guards, by four times. Were there previously only five thousand Changelings here, so had fifteen thousand more been transfered here the previous days. Even so, they STILL hadn't caught the last of the free ponies. The drone hoped desperatly that they would find them soon. Then he could go back to take a nap in the sun, while on duty.
A giant white flash was seen in the forest outside Dodge City. It was so bright, that the drone thought for a moment he had fallen asleep and it was already time for the sunrise. Even the direction it came from would have been right. But then, a deafening sound blotted out everything else. The ground began to shake, as numerous ponies galloped down into the pit in which Dodge City had been build. The drone, momentarily stunned, tried to turn and raise the alarm, but the attackers were already on him. His comrades already came running, but for him, it was too late, for he had already been crushed under their galloping hooves.
Celestia stood at the edge of the pit of Dodge City. Just seconds ago, she had completed her teleportation spell, bringing with her, her platoon of enforcers. Half of them had immideatly began the charge, using the element of suprise that was surely on their side. On short notice, a small group of Ponies from Baltimare and Ponyville, had also joined her group. Only about a thousand Ponies all together, but every helping hoof in this would be welcome. She would have prefered to teleport right into the city, or devide her forces so they could attack from all sides, but that was the problem. Dodge City, as a seaside city, could not be attacked from behind. The city was also flanked by two rivers, that were flowing into the ocean here.
Celestia sighed. Dodge City surely was a verry well defensable position. Thinking back to it's founding days, she remembered that it was even build with that in mind. She again checked the positions of the Changelings within the city. Just as she had anticipated, they had increased the number of defenders, since the fall of Baltimare and the breaking mindcontrol. Her magic was able to pick up their effords to repell the attacking ponies. The first wave however, had suprised them utterly. They had been able to push forward up into the main square, before any kind of organized defense had been able to get started. Atleast that had worked out as she had planned. The first wave had been briefed about it, and she had not forced anypony to participate in the diversion.
Drawning out each and every Changeling in the city was their ultimate goal. Once they had taken the main square, they would defend it, and occausionaly try to push forward into the sidestreets. These attempts however, were all faints. They needed their complete and unshared attention to make her plan work. Keeping her eyes closed, her magical senses picked up every living being in the city limits and beyond. In her mind, formed a detailed map of the city. There was something wrong. About two thousand of the defenders were not acting according to her assumptions. They did not move towards the main square, but instead stayed close to the city borders, coming closer to her position by the second.
"So you are kind of enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Not really. It is just that doing something this familiar, is kind of soothing."
"Don't give me that. We have been one and the same for over a thousand years now. I know you missed this."
"Are you implying that I enjoy killing, or sending others to their death?"
"No I don't, neither do I, as you verry well know. I just say that you are enjoying the feeling of outplanning your enemy. The feeling of being always one step ahead. It's a shame you never took my advice and tried to play chess."
"I am the ruler of all of Equestria, I don't have time to endulge myself in games."
The inner discussion with her alter ego was, as always, amusing. Differently from Nightmare Moon, her alter ego had never once tried or even suggested to become the ruling persona. She was consent with staying in the background and let Celestia draw on her power. Solar Flare, was her name and she had actually been the sister of Nightmare Moon. Imprisonment in the Alicorn stone, had not completly cured the corrupted soul of Solar, but it had made her see her mistakes. Her alter ego was as calm and controlled as herself most of the time. At times, she could feel her anger about her decissions, but they had become good friends over the years.
Opening her eyes, she saw the group of Changelings closing in on her postion. She sighed. The other half of her platoon was working their way into the city in stealth, so she was alone on the hill. Celestia hated what she would have to do, but every second she delayed it, was a second her troops were without her directing hoof.
Celestia raised herself up to her full height. Pointing her horn into the direction of the approaching Changelings, she began to draw on Solars power. The Alicorn obliged and provided her with as much magical energy, as her host wanted. With a blindening flash of light, Celestia released the raw magic that had build up on her horn, shooting it right at the would be attackers.
Applecandy had charged into the city with the first wave. The red Earthpony mare had struck at Changeling left and right, before they had finally reached the main square. It was big enough to hold all of them. So far, everything had gone according to plan. As far as she saw, not a single one of them had fallen on their way here. They had not indulged in fights, instead they had just pushed on, knocking every obstacle out of their way, like a stampeede. Those of their enemies that were not able to get out of the way in time, were burried beneath their hooves. Right now, the Enforcers were bringing carts from the market that once was held here, to the entrances of the sidestreets. They had to fortify the place as good as they could, if they wanted to stand any chance to defend the place. All the while they had to do faint attempts of reaching other parts of the city, to really draw each and every Changeling to their position. She just hoped that the rebells here would not take their situation as being trapped, and try to help them. It could utterly take their plan apart.
Even so she held no grudge, nor any affection towards Celestia, she had to admit that the Alicorn was a genius. While the first wave had charged right in, not even trying to stay hidden, the second wave was sneaking into the city right now. They would work their way towards their position through sidestreets and backallyes, ambushing the Changelings from all sides. Applecandy did not expect this to go without losses on their side, but she would try to ensure, that they were kept at a minimum.
Celestia was panting a little, as she watched her handywork. Not only the place the energy had hit, but also all the way in between her position and the crater was burned to a crisp. Drawing upon Solars magic was always a little exhausting, since she had to push her Unicorn magic aside, to replace it with Solars Alicorn magic. Again she closed her eyes, and the imaginary map of the city appeared again. Just as she wanted to concentrate on planning their next move, she felt Solar begin to stirr inside her mind. This had never happend before, but the Alicorn was raging and struggeling. Something had happend to set Solar off. It wasn't rage she felt, but sorrow and remorse. Turning her attention to the struggeling passanger in her mind, she adressed Solar.
"What is going on? Please settle down, I need my concentration right now."
"She is DEAD! My sister is DEAD! I can feel it!"
Celestia froze. Nightmare Moon was dead? But since she was part of Luna...
"What about Luna?"
"SHE is the one who killed her! I saw it! It happend only moments ago..."
Celestia frowned. She sometimes forgot that the sisters were mentally linked. But for Luna to kill Nightmare Moon.... Could that mean that Luna was no more? Was she not the Princess of the night anymore?
"Do you know what became of my sister?"
"She... has been pulled out of the... symbiosis. You are the only full Alicorn now... Celestia... I am sorry for my outburst. Please continue... Nightmare had it coming sooner or later, and I tried to tell her numerous times.... But she still was my sister..."
"I do understand that you mourn her Solar... I hope you don't hold it against Moonlilly though. If she did it, then only because it was a situation in which her own life was in danger."
"I know.... Still that doesn't change the fact that part of me wants to crush her under my hooves, right now. But don't worry... I can live with it. I won't get corrupted ever again. I can rest knowing that she might now finally know peace...."
Celestia would have liked to embrace the mourning Alicorn, but that was impossible. Any kind of mental contact between their spectral bodies, would be bad, both knew that. Celestias ears perked up, as she felt something, she didn't like. The strong magic she had felt and used to locate the children of the night, was fading. Something was.... deadly wrong.
She immideatly retreated from Solar, and looked at her map again. The dots indicating the Enforcers, were fading. Many were going out completly. She had to act. Lunas seperation from Nightmare Moon, and the rebirth of Moonlilly, had caused much more then just that.
Apple Candy was feeling weak. She had already gulped down three of the manacrystals that Moonsinger had given them. Something was definitly wrong. Her spark was fading quickly, and even the magic in the crystals was fading fast. She didn't even use her gift, but was feeling weaker by the second. The Changeling she was fighting right now, was feeling her weakness, and with the accuracy of the predator, was intensifying it's attacks. Left and right she could see her brothers and sisters fall, all of them weakend by some unknown cause. But, it was not unknown....
Just as the Changelings were linked to their Queen mentally, so they were linked to their mother by magic. That was the sole reason they were even able to leave the garden. Through that connection, magic flowed into all of them, and now something had severed that connection. It could mean many things, but the first thing that came to her mind, was the most likely thing.... Their mother was dead, and all of this had become useless... Her limbs froze up, and she got hit by a strong hit by her attacker. She was sure the others felt it too, and atleast some of them had given up at the prospect.
A part of her, wanted to do so aswell. What was the meaning of this fight, if their mother as dead? Everything became meaningless... And that was when the desperation in her mind, was overwhelmed with unrelenting rage. They had KILLED her mother. Apple Candies eyes began glowing, as she drew upon the verry last reserves of her spark. Even if it would mean her own death, she would make them pay. She would not go down without a fight.
The Changeling she had been fighting came jumping at her, snarling in anticipation of his victory, but one hit from one of her forelegs knocked him into the side of a building, killing it instantly.
"FOR MOTHER!"
She screamed and charged into the Changeling masses, that were slowly overwhelming them.
"DON'T GIVE IN! MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT! SHOW THEM THAT IT IS DANGEROUS IN THE DARK!"
Her battlecry while she smashed several Changelings, encouraged more and more of her brothers and sisters. More and more eyes began to glow and more and more Changelings dropped dead on the floor. The tides of the battle were slowly turning in their favor again, even so all of them knew, that they would not survive this night. But the thought of their mothers possible death, enraged them enough to make them forget this fact.
Celestia watched her map in horror as more and more of the enforcers died. She could interfere on herself, but that would result in an arcane burnout, seeing the number of remaining enemies. Retreat was also an option, but feeling the wall of anger coming from the city, she doubted they would listen to the command. There was only one viable option left for her to persue....
"Solar.... I need your help."
".... You can draw on as much power as you need... I don't care."
"That is not what I mean. You know aswell as I do that it exhausts me if I do that."
"......"
"Solar?"
"You... can't be serious. You have never asked me to do that, not even when my sister had overwhelmed Luna. What if I decide to keep control."
"You won't, I trust you."
"...."
"Please... SAVE MY LITTLE PONIES!"
Celestia felt that there was a enormous magical energy building up inside her. It was shoving her rudely aside, pushing her to the back of her own mind.
Solar did not know if what she was doing was the right thing. She had never wanted to come forward, since she dreaded the possibility of anewed cooruption. But hearing her host and friend, including Lunas children in the plea and the group of "her little ponies", had done the trick. For the first time after over twenty thousand years, Solar began to draw magical energy into herself activly again. The energy Celestia used, was usually what she had absorbed passivly. Something that was as subconciouss to her as breathing.
Celestias body got enveloped in a glowing orb, of brilliant white light. Her eyes changed their form, to that of dragon eyes, while her crown seemed to melt, forming a golden armor on her neck, head and hooves. After several seconds, the light receeded, and Solar Flare, former queen to the Alicorn tribe, took a deep breath for the first time in centuries. It tasted sweet and intoxicating. It felt good to see through her own eyes again, and breath through her own lungs.
"Solar!"
Celestias shout from the back of her mind, brought Solars mind back into focus. Right. She was not in control permanently, and she didn't want to be so either. Sure it felt nice, but she wouldn't want to become the warmonger she had once been once again. She was several inches taller then even Celestia, and as she spread her massive wings, it became quite obvious that her residing in the back of Celestias mind, was mere courtesy of her. The power that eminated from her, showed evidence that she could have overtaken the princess in an instant, whenever she had wished to do so....
Soaring up into the sky, she soon had a good overview of the battlefield. The analytic capabilities of her host, helped her to assert the situation in mere seconds. As it had been in the days of old, the queen of all Alicorns dived down into the thick ofthe fighting, landing between several fighting Children of the night and Changelings. A quick flash of her horn, made each and every creature freeze in the tracks. Pegasi that had been flying, fell out of the sky, but were enveloped in her magic before they could hit the ground. Slowly she walked between the paralyzed contestants. She could feel the weakness in the ponies. The magic keeping them alive outside their refuge was fading, and there was nothing she could do to help them. Infusing them with her own magic, would only annihalate the magic that was already in them. No the risk was too great. Her mane and tail, flowing like blue flames, began to stretch and expand. Soon each and every creature in the city was enveloped in her flames.
But they were not burned. Instead she caressed them with it, untill each and every creature was identified. Was it a bird, a rodent, a Pony or a Changeling. She knew the exact position of each and every one of them in her mane and tail. After another flash of her horn, all those who she deemed hostile , were burned to a crisp, leaving behind only ashes. Those, who she deemed friendly, she teleported inside the barrier, that was called the garden. Soon, she was the only living being, left in Dodge City....
Memories flashed back into her mind. Memories long forgotten. She remembered the rare days off, when she had flown over the lands with her sister, hunting Ponies for relaxation. Killing them with her magic, had been no fun, it was too quick... Seeing them squirm and beg for their lives.....
Solar Flare shook her head. No. She had been a corrupted monster back then, taking pleasure in the misery of others. She would not allow herself to become that corrupted beast ever again. With a smooth spell, she teleported into the forest, and released all of the magical energy she had absorbed in a single massive blast. It was more then enough to let off some steam, and it allowed her to give over the control of their body back to Celestia.
As Celestia opend her eyes, she looked around. There, where had been a forest just moments ago, was now only a bruning wasteland as far as her eyes reached. The forest had gone on for miles, and in less then a second, Solar Flare had burned it down.
"Why did you do that?"
"As long as I am strong, I can't give you control again.... And I had to vent some of my anger.... THAT is the reason I don't want to come out... I have a hard time controling myself.... I never want to be corrupted ever again..... Please don't ask me to do that ever again... I am afraid of myself..."
Children of the night
Chapter 18
Broken Bonds
Moonsinger could not believe it. She had been in bed, and asleep, but once she felt it, she awoke in an instant. Her connection to her mother was severed. How could that be? She immideatly thought of the most horrible thing. Her mother... was dead. She began to cry, but all the same, kept it together. Now she had done it. Had Chyrysalis attacked the garden before, and deserved her wrath, now she would definitly kill her. The biggest problem would be, that even she would not be able to leave the garden now.
"Damn you Chrysalis..."
She hissed and ran outside. Everywhere other ponies did the same and looked up to the barrier in tears. She would have to act quickly now. The barrier also had a connection to their mother, and that one would surely be severed aswell. Still crying, but more in rage then sorrow, she raced to the middle of Geminis town square. Having arrived there, she began to draw upon as much magic as she could manage. She controled the moonlight. A part of the moons mana. SHE was compatible with their mothers mana. She had never wanted to do this, and the potion Zecora gave her, made it all the much harder, to draw in enough magic to do, what she had to do.
Moonsingers horn began to hurt and burn, as if she had stuck it into a furnace. Her guts were turning themself inside out and every fiber of her bidy screamed for her to stop what she was doing, but she still pushed on.Their mother, was gone. As her daughter, it was now HER duty to protect her brothers and sisters. Mumbling an appology to Zecora, Moonsinger gave in to the burning in her body. In a grey flash of light, her body began to burn. Her coat melted away, and she screamed in pain.Her eyes glowing all the while, using her gifts to draw in extra power. Several of the onlookers tried to come and help her, since they thought she had finally lost it, but Moonsinger cast a shield around herself to keep them at a distance. If anypony approached her now, they would burn in her magical aura. Now her flesh melted, and she felt it all. The mercy of unconciousness did not come however. Moonsinger screamed even louder and her body began convulsing, as her molten flesh reformed on her, and her bones stretched themself. The process was so painfull, that soon, she couldn't even scream any more, but was consent with gritting her teeth and almost breaking them.
It lasted only seconds, but for Moonsinger, it felt like aoens. As the light surrounding her finally faded, Moonsinger was panting heavily and dropped to her knees. Her spark... was gone. She had used it all up, but was able to live on. She had now an independed power source. She had done, what even her mother had warned her about. She had become and Alicorn.... Had it failed, the energy could have backfired on her, even more so that she had already taken her potion. Had that happend, she would have fried her own brain with it. But she had suceeded, and that was all that mattered. Struggeling to her hooves, she ignored the amazed onlookers, and proceeded with her duties. Her brown coat, was wet with her sweat. Her mane and tail also were dripping sweat, but she did not care.
Moonsinger raised her hurting head. Her burning muscles protested, but she still ignored any warning signs. Looking at the moon, she began to draw upon it's mana. Her horn felt ready to burst, due to the strain it had to endure before, but she ignored it all. Linking herself to the barrier, she became it's new power source. She had gone over the procedure with her mother centuries ago, and she had stressed the point not to do it, unless it was impossible to do something else.
Finally having completed her first Alicorn spell, Moonsinger collapsed. The potion was taking it's toll, trying to supress her magical ability. Strange enough, even so she had more magical power then ever before now, she did not feel the urge to use her special talent. She hoped, before she fainted, that this would atleast one benefit she gained, from going against her mothers will...
Two hours later
Celestia was helping in a field hospital, treating the wounded. Many of them were not part of the enforcers she had led into battle, but rebels from Dodge city, who had interfered in the fight. Their injuries were not serious, but those of the Enforcers.... They had used almost all of their magical energy in a desperate attempt to win the fight for Luna. After Solar had teleported them all here, the other children of the night, had reacted quickly and brought them here. Their condition was serious. Most of them would take months before they can only get better by absorbing the barrieres energy, and that takes time.
One particular patient, worried her the most. It was Moonsinger. When she had arrived, only minutes after the Enforcers had been teleported there, she had layn on the townsquare, with several onlookers. Her shieldspell was still in place which is why nopony was able to approach or help her. The newly born Alicorn had done something remarkable, that much Celestia had to admit. But it also had been more then stupid. Celestia had broken her shield, and gotten her out of there. Only a few moments, she had been awake, but that was enough to tell her one single sentence.
"Luna is alive."
She had smiled at that, and closed her eyes again. Celestia thought that she had relived some of her nieces worries. But... one Problem remained. Moonlilly would have to ascent into Luna again. Until then their offensive was on a halt. None of the Enforcers would be able to leave the barrier. She just hoped that her sister knew what her being reborn as an Unicorn had caused. She just HAD to ascent again, as quickly as possible.
"Quite interesting, that Moonsinger. I can sense great potential in her."
"Yes, she is strong, but that was stupid!"
"No kidding. Had she wavered even a little, she could have blasted this whole city away, and my teleportation spell would have brought your Ponies into nothing but a giant crater."
"You really think she is that strong?"
"Are you kidding? I havn't seen a naturally ascended Alicorn in centuries Celestia. She has the same potential as me, even so she is NOT as strong as me yet, she could be if she is given the time. You wouldn't know what her talent is, would you? That could be a crucial information to have."
"I think it was something with controling the moonlight, to make it impale everything in her vicinity."
"Mhmm.... That sounds familiar. I knew a mare once that had a simliar ability. Tell me, can she control it?"
"I don't think so. She always seemed pretty afraid when we spoke about it."
"That might be a good thing. Her inability to control it, could have been due to the fact that she was a mere Unicorn. Her transformation, could have fixed that. If she can't however, as much as I hate to suggest it, it would be better to put her down."
"How could you!"
"I don't mean anything bad by it. But imagine how much damage she could do when she was a Unicorn. Enough to make her afraid of her own talent. What would she be able to do, now that she is an Alicorn.....?"
Celestia paused for a moment. That thought had already crossed her mind aswell, and the implications were bad. When Moonsinger lost control over her special talent, she might, without meaning to, destroy half or all of Equestria. Also she would hate to have to tell Luna that she had put down Moonsinger. It was no use to think about it. She had to think of their offensive right now. Turning inwards, she once again attempted to convince Solar Flare to use her power to help them in this war....
Moonlilly had been dozing on the floor near the fireplace, when she suddenly felt something. She had already noticed that her connection to her children had been broken, but she didn't worry about that too much. Aslong as they stayed inside the barrier, they would be safe for atleast a month. No. What made her wake up, was a enomous wave of moon mana that washed over her. She was no Alicorn any more, but she still felt like it was her own. This could only mean one thing. Moonsinger.... had ascended.
One day later
Moonlilly could not wait anymore. She needed to ascent as soon as possible, and therefore there was no time to wait for her magic to regenerate naturally. Also she would have to connect herself with the barrier, and her children again. She didn't want her daughter to bear that kind of responsibility.
Twilight was helping the former Alicorn, after she had explained her what she had to do, and why. She didn't like it, but Moonlilly had been pretty serious. Unwavering Twilight continued to pour her own mana into Moonlilly, who was now absorbing it and transforming it into her own. On her face, Twilight could see that it hurt her a great deal. Arteficially regaining once magical ability could be deadly, if ones concentration was broken.
Moonlilly could feel it. Her magic was coming back to her and in addition to the power Twilight was pouring into her, she now began to draw in as much magical energy as she could. Her inner storage, was already full, but she continued to do so. She had never ascended the natural way, so she did not know what to expect, but her instincts told her she was doing the right thing.
Soon a dark blue light began to envelop Moonlilly, as blue flames began to burn her coat. The unexpected pain, almost made her break the link she had established with Twilight. This could have been a disaster. No... it WAS a disaster. Moonlilly felt it. The magic was not enough and was beginning to escape her control. If this failed, she would die a painfull death, or in the worst case, suffer severe brain damage.
Fluttershy interfered with the two mares. She grabbed both of them, by enveloping them in her magic. She did not know why she did it, or how she knew it was the right thing to do, she just did. With the last bit of Discords magic, she teleported the three of them out of their rooms, and onto the verry peak of mount Unicornia. There, a beautifull moon sat in the sky, as if it had awaited it's mistresses return, and gentle rays of mana, began to envelop the Unicorn that had once been Luna.
Yes, Moonlilly felt it. Her body was reforming, while incredible pain ran through her. Only a second, after the moons mana enveloped her, she spread her wings, breaking her connection with Twilight, and embracing the moons mana. She did not feel any pain anymore. It felt right to be an Alicorn once again. Her name, was once again Luna, princess of the night. She looked down on the two mares that had helped her ascent again. Twilight Sparkle had tumbled back, and was now sitting on her haunches. The Unicorn mare however, lay motionless in the mountains snow. Luna enveloped her in her magic, and checked for herself. A tear formed in the corner of her eye.
Fluttershy, the element of kindness, had stopped breathing. Her Unicorn horn was charred and her eyes were bloodshot. The elements of harmony, were broken. Their beares stripped of their power.... She could only imagine what had caused the mares death. Fluttershy had been clever enough to somehow know what she needed, and bring her to a place where she could get it. The magical potential of her ascention, and the energy flowing through her connection with Twilight Sparkle, must have created a feedback impulse when she had teleported them. The energy that was going out of control, had homed in on the only horn, that had not been concentrating to contain it, and fried Fluttershys brain....
"I am not even an Alicorn for an hour now, and I already have blood on my hooves..."
Luna thought, looking worried at Twilight Sparkle, who had also noticed her friends demise. Luna could not bear to look at her. It was her fault that her friend had died. Her hurry do ascent again, had caused this....
"Take her with you, when you go back inside, Twilight Sparkle... I am... sorry for your loss."
Twilight just stared at her. But she didn't look back. She had a duty to perform, and she would do it. Jumping off the edge of mount Unicornia, she spread her wings and soared into the direction of the Everfree forest. No Changeling would dare to approach her. Her magical presence was now almost twice as strong as it had been, when she had been fused with Nightmare Moon. This power, was all hers. No alter ego interfering with her any longer. No fear of emotions anymore. And finally a possibility to end this war in one swift attack, by three fully grown Alicorns. Yes, fully grown... Her natural ascention had finally matched her body with her age, making her a fully grown adult now.
Her mane and tail, having always sparkled like the nightsky, were now even more radiant and wonderfull. It felt so good to feel the moonlight again. It felt wonderfull to be able to feel it, for the verry first time, without another being poluting the experience.....
Children of the night
Chapter 19
Offense!
One week had passed, since Luna had returned to her children. Celestia had filled her in, in what had happend, while Moonsinger was still a little weak. The strain of her forced ascention, against the magical supression of the potion, had caused her some mild side effects. Also, the first thing Luna had done when Moonsinger had woken up, was chew her out for acting so reckless. Her daughter had tried to justify her actions, but Luna would have nothing of it. In her eyes that act was the most stupid path her daughter could have taken.
After the lecturing was done however, the two Alicorns had shared a tearfull embrace, that was filled with relief. They were both more then happy to se each other again. After Moonsinger had recovered enough to move around, the three of them had a talk of great length. The three immortal siblings decided that, since there were one hundred and twentyfour thousand combat ready Enforcers, plus several hundred volunteers from the freed cities, they would each take fourty thousand and start their offensive on more then one front. The volunteers from the cities, and the remaining Enforcers, would secire supply routes and defend recaptured terretories. Also each and every Platoon, was assigned a captain, who would be second in command.
For Celestias platoon, Apple Candy had volunteered. She had seen how well the eldest of the siblings could plan, and how well she could fight if she had too. She respected that, and wanted to help her as good as she could.
Luna chose Frostmane, whos commanding ability and effectivness in battle, was second only to Moonsinger among her children. there had been many volunteers, but Luna wanted the most fitted one for the position. For Frostmane, it was a great honor to be chosen by their mother, and she obliged eagerly, by hugging Luna.
Moonsinger, had to turn down several volunteers. There was only one stallion she would want at her side, when the battle began. It was Flametail. She had promised him to take him into battle, if the opportunity arose. She was now keeping that promise.
"So where do you plan to direct your forces Celestia?", asked Luna during their last meeting before they would commence the attack.
"I plan to head west, to Los Pegasus. Due to your new connection with your children, and your generous supply of Manachrystals, we should be able to make it there and back."
"I will go to Hoofington. The town I was born in, shall not suffer under Chrysalis."
"Well you two seem to get along pretty well lately.... Verry well. If you head east Moonsinger, and Celestia goes west, then I will head south, to Appleloosa. The only City up north would be Canterlot, past the Trottback mountains and the mane forest, so this is the best option for me. I think we can all agree, that we will wait, until we retake Canterlot, untill our numbers have increased considerably. I trust that Twilight Sparkle and her friends, even so emotionally unstable at the moment, will stay hidden until we do."
Finished Luna, summarising the meeting. The two other mares nodded, as each of them grabbed a map of Equestria. Originally, they didn't want to go onto an offensive like this, but Moonsinger had gotten Lunas point. The sooner the war ended, the sooner the garden would not be in danger any longer. Also, there had been a messenger from Ponyville, who had relayed a message from the Chrystal empire. Princess Cadance had reached it safe and sound. The Changeling army that had massed on their borders, had withdrawn due to unknown reasons.
"Dear Celestia,
I have arrived in the Chrystal empire. The situation is not as bad as I had thought it would be. Most of the civilians are unharmed, even so most of my soldiers can't say the same. On the other hoof, most of the civilian population is eager to help, and recruiting is already under way.
What you have told me about what could happen to me, has occured. It really is a good thing I have Diamond with me, even if it is only for that reason alone. She has agreed to assist in the fight against Chrysalis, in a more active role. What that will be, you will have to see for yourself. I will only tell you this much. Now that she has chosen to help us, she will never be able to become the ruling queen in Chrysalis's hive. It has something to do with pheromones, or so she explained to me. As of the moment of this letter, I declare her an ally of the Chrystal empire. Yes, you have read right. I have set her free. My Ponies had some problems warming up to her at first, but they are starting to accept her as an equal, since she has yet to make any attempt to feed forcefully. Instead, I have witnessed how some of my subjects, have agreed for her to feed on them a little. No Pony has been harmed so far, and nopony has described it as being unpleasant either. I am starting to think, that we might actually be able to co-exist.
Princess Miamory Cadenca of the Chrystal empire"
This ment, that Cadence would be able to start her own offnsive soon, and she would come from the north. If they did it right, then all four of them would reach Canterlot at exactly the same time. No matter how many Changelings Chrysalis would be breeding, this would be her downfall, of that the three were sure.
Closing the meeting, the three only immortal Alicorns crossed their horns, and embraced in a group hug.
"See you two in Canterlot, you two."
"You bet auntie! We'll give her hell!"
"Don't get reckless, now that your an Alicorn Moonsinger. Don't forget to send Flametail my way, if you run into trouble."
"Yes ma'am...."
Celestia giggled. In her time in the Unicorn Republics army, she had attended more then one meeting to plan an offensive, or the defense of a crutial area. She had always felt strange during those, but this felt even stranger. So much indeed, that she couldn't help but break out into laughter. It felt wrong somehow, but also good. They were going into battle, but were simply saying good bye, as if there was no possibility of them never seeing each other again.... She liked it.
At sunset, Celestia, Luna and Moonsinger set out to start their counter invasion. Sure, they had already recaptured three cities, but that had been nothing more then petty raids, compared to what they were doing now. Dividing their forces, and attacking on more then one front, would most likely strain the Changeling queens ability to plan ahead. However, atleast Celestias force would have to return after each fight. Luna and Moonsinger would be able to raise simliar barriers around their fieldcamps, making it almost impossible for their sparks to run out.
Midnight during the same night
Luna had motivated her children to make haste, and here they were. Not even two miles ahead of them, lay Appleloosa. One of the newest Pony settlements in Equestria, and the first city she would free in this invasion. They had already encountered several of patrols that guarded the perimeter, but none of them had been able to get back to their base to alert the others. Luna checked their surroundings with her magic, and then frowned. She had hoped to be able to use a simliar tactic as Moonsinger, when her daughter had retaken Baltimare. A magical barrier she felt however, was preventing her from doing so. It was not ment to keep anything outside, but to dispell any transformation magic. She called Frostmane to her side, and the blue coated Unicorn mare came running.
"What is it mother?"
"I want you to take ten thousand of our forces and circle around the settlement. I will sneak into the city, and make it look like I want to retake it on my own. When you see my signal, a magical firework. You will charge into the city. The remaining forces will form a belt around the city, to make sure no Changeling escapes."
"What about "Those who surrender..." "
"They would not make prisoners if they were in our position. I hate it as much as you Frostmane, but we will have to take out each and every one of them. Even those who surrender."
Frostmane did not feel the slightest remorse at this. She would have killed all the Changelings she met anyway. There was just no way, she would one of them come close enough to talk to her, or surrender! This fight was her chance to correct her mistake from their attack on Ponyville. There she had not been able to help their mother, but this time she would rather die then let it happen again.
"Understood. I will get my squad ready and depart immideatly, or do you want us to wait?"
"No. I have already relayed my orders to the others. I will go in now, so don't keep me waiting"
With that she disappeared in a bright flash of pale white light, only to reappear in the middle of the Changeling barracks. They were startled, and some never got the chance to ever react to the intruder. Luna did not use her magic, but slammed her way through her foes. She used her magical mane and tail, to knock them through the room by the dozens, while her hoofs smashed several skulls. They tried to fight back, but the magical bolts that hit Luna, were nothing more then light stings on her skin. Some being a little more painfull then others. Was this the power of a naturally ascended Alicorn? She sensed two beings approach her from behind, but bucked at them before they could grab her. Their heads disintegrated in sprays of red mist, while their bodies dropped to the floor. Luna was stunned at her raw power, herself when twenty of them came from either sides of the small room she had teleported in, and grabbed her.
For a moment, they thought they might have a chance to capture the Alicorn, until their attacker spread her wings, and shook them off with a single flap of them. The wind that was no running through the small comfort of brack A-22, was enough to blow most of the furniture around.
Again, Luna was marveling just how much stronger she was then before. There was just no comparing her former form, to her naturally ascended one. Her appearance might not have change much, but her power certainly had. She felt confident that, would the situation arise, she would be able to even defeat Celestia with this kind of power.....
She shook her head. No... Where was that thought coming from? She would never again raise a hoof against her sister! That she had sworn, when she had been freed by the elements of harmony. Still, she couldn't deny that it felt good, knowing that she was now stronger then her older sibling..... And so should be Moonsinger... Her daughter had also naturally ascended.... While galloping through the hallways of the underground barracks, like back in the day when she had been a special operator, she remembered the training session she had held with Moonsinger.
Two days previous
Moonsinger was standing on a field, far away from the garden, or any other Ponysettlement. Luna was with her, to contain her talent, should she loose control over it. Both of them used the moons mana, so Luna was the logical choice....
"So... you really want me to do it?"
Moonsinger sounded hesitant. She hadn't used her special talent for several years, and back then it had all been uncontrolled.....
"Yes Moonsinger. I have to see if you are a potential danger to your brothers and sisters. If you proove to be one, Celestia and I might have to seal that magical talent of yours. Believe me, I would hate to do it, but..."
"You don't have to appologize mother. I would rather die, then endanger them. Besides, if you seal my horns outlet, I can still draw magic in and use it on myself. My physical strength is enough of a gift for me."
"Ok then... let's begin. Whenever your ready."
Moonsinger closed her eyes. The process of singing was an instinctual one. She had never once, on her previous outings to use her talent, chosen the words, nor the melody of her songs... It just came to her.... Dropping her hesitation and her unwillingness to do it, she could hear the melody in her mind. Soon her mouth began to move on it's own, and the words came to her, forming a beautiful, yet sad song. Even so her eyes were closed, she could clearly see all of her surroundings. She could see it.... since the moon had replaced her eyes....
I co-mand th-e gen-tle ra-ys,
They come from your,
gre-y surfa-ce,
Tonight you die,
.....
At that moment, Luna had felt an enormous amount of magic coming her way. As she looked up, the impossible had actually happend. The moons rays had solidified and were now raining down in her general direction. Yet, she did not move. She trusted her daughter, and was positive that no moon mana, would be able to hurt her anyways.
She couldn't have been m,ore wrong. As the rays hit the ground all around her, a dustcloud rose up that shielded even her own nose from her view. Instinctually she raised her wings, trying to clear some of the dust in front of her. That had been when one of the rays, a stray one she was sure, had scraped her flank. It was a shallow cut, but it had burned like somepony had poured pure acid on her. Despite the pain, she had forced herself to stay still, until her daughters song had ended. As the dust had cleared enough for her to see again, she saw a sight of utter destruction. They had been standing on a grassy field, just minutes ago, but now there was nothing of it left. In fact, the place she was standing on was several meters above ground now, and being one of only two spots that were left unharmed. The other one, was were Moonsinger stood, her eyes still closed. If her daughter could control this talent, fine. But she shall never use it in battle... Had she used it in a populated area like Canterlot....
Present
Luna stood in front of the Pub of Appleloosa. Changelings were now pouring onto the mainstreet from all directions. She disposed of some of them, but with this many, she was sure they could overwhelm even her. So she shot up a flare spell into the air. Only seconds later, her children, led by Frostmane, charged into the main street, slaughtering the Changelings from behind. They had been caught off guard, and were barely able to fight back. Changelings.... Strange enough even those creatures where creatures of the day, and a nightly raid had done the job..... Luna just hoped that they would not adapt to this tactics....
Children of the night
Chapter 21
Falling apart
Chrysalis was pacing the throne room of Canterlot castle. Her spies in the Everfree forest had reported that a large group of ponies had left the garden of shadows. The group had split in three, each led by an Alicorn. She had planned to have her drones from Appleloosa intercept the one heading south, while those in the hive were to flank the group in the east.... However, her messangers had returned with dire news. Appleloosa was recaptured, and she hadn't noticed a single thing. That in itself was not so bad, since the town was not that big. Only about two thousand ponies lived there, so she could easily take that loss. What had left her speechless however, had been the report of the messanger she had sent to her hive....
The hive she had built up for so many centuries, was now nothing more then a crater in the ground, with no survivors. That event had made one thing painfully clear to her. Her connection to her drones was weakening. Had it been as strong as usual, she would have felt that many deaths for sure. This was a big problem, but could be set aside aslong as they stayed loyal. Right now, she had sent word to all occupied cities in the west and east. In the south there were only a few mining camps, that would not hurt her cause were they to be lost.... The drones however were another matter entirely, so she had ordered all of them back to strengthen her defenses. The fight was coming her way, and her hive was destroyed. She had to act, and start breeding more drones as fast as she could. All her egg reserves had been in the hive....
That afternoon found Chrysalis in the former dungeons of the castle. All day, since that morning, she had intercourse with her drones. Now it was time to lay eggs. She forced her body to double the number she would usually have been able to produce. It hurt, but it had to be done. Soon the entire dungeons were one sticky mess of green slime. In it, along the walls, were thousands of eggs, that would be ready to join her cause in a few days. Chrysalis lay panting in one of the former cells, her lower body bleeding badly. She knew she had overdone it a bit, but she was unwilling to give up her grasp over Equestria, now that she finally had conquered it....
Twilight Sparkle was still staring vacantly into nothingness, and her remaining friends were more then worried. Applejack, who was mostly asleep these days since she had caught an infection, so her medication had to be increased, had missed most of it. Rarity and Pinkie tended to their friends as good as they could, but they also mourned for their fallen friend. They all knew that Fluttershy had died, while helping the princess ascend again.... That she had died for a noble task however, did not make it hurt any less.
While Rarity was the one that treated Applejack, and fed Twilight, Pinkie was usually using her training weights to vent some of her anger. She was sad about her friends death, but her hatred blotted even that out. They had caused all of this. The Changelings would have to pay for what they did to her friends. She would make sure of that.
"Pinkie you really could help me with them. Taking care of Twilight alone is taxing, since I have to make her swallow every bite I give her."
"She will come around. Give her time. We need to get ready for the battle!"
"Whatever are you talking about? We still have the elements, but without Fluttershy we can't use them. There won't be a..."
"I don't need the elements to fight! What do you think I train that much for Rarity? You could also you some thoughening up!"
"No way Pinkie Pie! We can't fight them in our current state. I am unable to use magic, Applejack can barely move her legs without screaming in pain, and Twilight has burried herself in her own little world. What do you think we could possibly do?"
"Make them pay?"
"What?"
"I said, we will make them pay! For Twilight! For Fluttershy! For EVERYPONY THEY HURT!"
Rarity sighed. Adding to her worries about Twilight and Applejack, she also worried about Pinkie Pie lately. The usually so happy pony had become more and more agressive over the last few weeks... If this went on any farther, she would surely do something foalish....
That night
Rarity had turned in for the night, after making sure Twilight and Applejack lay in their own beds and were clean. With them in a state like this, they couldn't even use the restroom....
Pinkie checked the tunnel that led up to Raritiys and Applejacks cell. As she saw that there was no light coming from there, she got her tramplers from under her bed and put them on. After that, she walked over to a bookshelf that held several medical reference guides. For the last few days, she had used her metal tramplers to dig through the soft earth behind the shelf, and tonight, she finally broke through. She had looked everywhere else, but this was the only spot that did not consist of hard rock, which was too hard for her tramplers to cut through.
She stuck her head out of the hole she had made, and looked around. To her delight, she could see, that she had landed in the basement of some building, so no Changeling was around. Carefully Pinkie extracted herself from the tunnel, and placed several sacks of flour in front of it, to hide it from view. She made a mental not to herself to find something to cover it up better for the next time. She was sorry, deep inside, that she had to do this, but her friends were just no help right now, and she could not wait to finally get back at the Changelings for what they had done.
Carefully going up the wooden stairs that led up from the basement, she looked around the main room of what looked like a bakery. Carefull, not to make to much noise with her tramplers, she walked to one of the windows. Due to the night outside, and the unlit store, she saw several Changelings patroling the streets outside. She knew she ought to be carefull, and she also knew that she originally only wanted to gather some information for her future outings, but right now she saw red.... Her anger overwhelmed Pinkamena Diana Pie, and she lunged, through the closed window, at the five Changelings outside. The shallow cuts on her face and flanks she suffered from this, she barely registered. The Changelings were utterly supprised by the pink pony attacking them, so their reaction was delayed a little.
That delay however, had been enough for the partythrower extraordinare to grab the one closest to herself and twist his neck. She did so, with no hesitation, and no remorse. She did not even feel effort breaking his neck. Her training was really showing in the light of the streetlamps now. Her formerly plump frame was now muscular, and everytime she exhaled, steam came from her nostrils, indicating her furry. The second Changeling fell to one of her tramplerclad hooves, as she spun around and hit him with her right foreleg. The still stunned guard flew several hooves, crashed into the side of a building and lay motionless.
The other three regained their composure and strated to attack Pinkie hoof to hoof, but the pink partypony dodged their attacks with practiced ease. It was just like playing Dodgeball extreme, which was one of her favorite games. When one of the Changelings fell back and shot a magical bolt at her, Pinkie jumped back from her attackers, onto the wall of the shop she had emerged from, and bucked at it midflight, sending herself flying at the magic user.
"CHEATER!"
She screamed, as her left foreleg connected wih the Changelings right tempel, and sent him flying. The other two reacted quicky, chasing after her, but her hindlegs had already reared up into the air again, bucking at one of them. The other one did hit her with a painfull blow to her flank, and Pinkie shrank away from him, dodging another blow that came her way. She was now facing only one opponent, but something was wrong. The ground beneath her was slippery, and she found it hard to hold her ballance. As she looked down for a moment, to see what it was that was giving her trouble, she noticed that she was standing in a puddle of dark red liquid. But she did not have the time to investigate where it had come from, or what it was, as she already heard the last guard charge at her. With more effort then she had anticipated, she reared up, and struck his head from both sides with her ironclad hooves. The crunching sound that followed it, satisfied her a great deal. What she had not anticipated however, had been the force of the charging Changeling. Even as she had crushed it's head between her hooves, the force of his charge drove his body forward, burrying his horn deep in her chest.
Pinkie let go of the lifeless form of the Changeling, as she coughed up blood and fell to her right side. Now she could see what the red liquid had been, that had almost made her slip earlier. It had been her own blood... A piece of wood was burried deep inside her left flank.... With some effort Pinkie drew the Changelings horn from her chest, biting back the tears that formed in her eyes. She had been reckless, and made a stupid mistake. Now that the adrenaline left her body, she felt the pain from the wounds and had to clench her teeth to keep herself from screaming. She had planned this to be a reconissaince mission, but her anger had overtaken her.... Slowly she dragged herself to the window she had jumped through earlier. In the distance, she could hear the shouts of other guards that came this way, so she had to hurry.
But it was so hard... Her head felt light, and her legs were like pudding.... She fell down the stairs to the basement, in which her super secret tunnel ended, breaking one of her forelegs, and loosing two of her tramplers. Laying there, in the darkness with her back against the stone wall, a puddle of blood forming under her, the last thing Pinkie heard, was the clip clop of running hooves, and a concerned voice.....
A few minutes earlier
Twilight had opend her eyes, and looked around. Her head hurt and she felt bad. She remembered Fluttershys death, and was close to going back into her depression, when she noticed a draft blowing over her. That must have been what had awoken her in the first place. She looked around, but she knew there were no windows here. All the fresh air their home had, came magically from mount Unicornia itself. As her gaze fell on the bookshelf near the rear end of the room however, she gasped in suprise, and jumped out of bed. The shelf was pushed to the side, revealing a small hole in the wall, barely big enough for a pony to squeeze through. Twilight looked over to Pinkies bed, as her suspision was confirmed. The pink partypony was gone. Immedeatly, she crawled into the hole, even so all her senses told her it was a bad idea. She already lost Fluttershy.... She would not loose another one of her friends if she could help it....
Children of the night
Chapter 22
Life and death
Twilight had squeezed herself through the tunnel Pinkie had dug. It was much to small for her, but she used her magic to enlarge it, where it was hard for her to pass through. Shortly before she reached it's end, she heard a muffled scream, a metalic sound as if something fell to the ground, and something falling on wood. As she reached the end of the tunnel, she pushed aside the sacks that had been placed on it's exit. With a flash of her horn, she enlightend the darkness around her. Twilight wanted to find her friend as fast as she could, and drag her back with her if she had to. She had not to look long. There, at the end of a wooden staircase, lay Pinkie Pie in her own blood. Her left foreleg was bent in an odd angle, and the shaft of a spear emerged from her left flank. Twilight hurried over to her fallen friend, starting to panic.
"Pinkie! Oh no, oh no,oh no! There is so much blood. Please Pinkie, not you too, Pinkie open your eyes.... please..."
Twilight pleaded, but her friend did not open her eyes. Frightend what she might discover, Twilight licked one of her hooves and put it under Pinkies nose, to find out of her friend was still breathing. It was weak, but there was definitly air being pulled into her friends lungs. Also she noticed that her hoof came back bloody. Just as she had enveloped Pinkie in her magic, to get her back to their hideout to treat her, the door to the basement was shoved open and several Changelings came charging into the room. Twilight spread her wings and positioned herself in front of her injured friend. The Changelings seemed a little taken aback seeing an Alicorn here, but they attacked anyway.
"I don't have time for this!"
Twilightlight screamed, and shot bolt after bolt from her horn. Each and every one of her spells hit true, sending her victims flying or drop dead where they were. She tried to take care of all of them quickly, but they just kept coming! The bodies were already piling up, and her magic was growing weaker, when they finally stopped charging in. Twilights horn stopped glowing and she looked back at her friend. She could still barely make out her breathing, but it wouldn't be long until she bled to death. She had to get Pinkie out of here! Twilight focused almost all of her remaining magical energy on Pinkie. With a purple flash of light, the pink pony dissappeared from behind her. She only hoped she would be able to get out of here before any more of them came charging at her.
Twilight wanted to make her way to the tunnel, when she froze in shock. An enormous magical presence was quickly approaching her position. She knew the magic. It was queen Chrysalis herself.... She had no time to crawl back through the tunnel and close it up behind her. The spell she would have to use for that, would be detectable for a short while, and so they could be found out. Without thinking, she shot another spell at the wall where the tunnel was, causing half of the basement to cave in. Hopefully the Changeling queen would take it for a misfire on her part... Now she would have to face Chrysalis... her magic almost depleted, her body aching and feeling weak... and her thoughts still a little confused since she had pulled herself forcefully from her depression....
Back in the hideout
Rarity woke from a blinding flash of light, and the earth beneath her bed shaking. As she looked up with her remaining eye, she could make out the source of the uncomfortable dampness that had started to seep through her sheets. A gravely injured, and even less breathing Pinkie Pie lay right on top of her.... Quickly she pulled herself out of her bed, and started to gather first aid materials from a cabinet close to her bed. She had stored them there, if Applejack needed any more assistance, but she had never anticipated something like this. Carefully Rarity began to work on her almost dead friend. Without her magic, she had to do everything by hoof, all the while screaming for Twilight to come and help her.... But her screams stayed unanswered....
In the basement
Twilight looked up defiantly at Chrysalis that stood in the doorway, that led into the basement.
"What a suprise. I have been looking for you all over, Twilight Sparkle. I had not thought I would find you in a bakery. Had any craving for muffins?"
"Oh yeah, I felt a little hungry while hiding in the sewers, but too bad your Changelings caught me... So let's get this over with already."
"The sewers?"
Chrysalis laughed.
"You must be thinking that I am stupid. I have the sewers patrolled several times a day, to ensure nopony hides there. If you are going to lie to me, you really should get better at it."
She slowly began to decent the stairs.
"And by the way.... I can barely feel your magical presence. You must be really close to a burnout, so what should stop me, from just throwing you into my dungeons again? Right now, I think you are more valuable alive, then dead."
Twilight braced herself, lowering her head, to be able to charge Chrysalis if she had to. Just as she felt herself being enveloped in Chrysaliss magic, once again, she heard a loud snapping noise, and the queens grip on her was broken.
Chrysalis looked around. She knew that kind of snap. Out of the shadows stepped a verry small but still intimidating Discord.
"Now now there Chrissy. I can't allow you to do that."
The Changeling queen wanted to say something, but with another snap, her muzzle was sealed shut just before she turned herself into a pony.
"Got you there. And now to you Ms. Sparkle. I am glad to see you are ok. But.... What the hay is going on? It's not like you to get into a fight with the likes of her."
"Discord! Am I glad to see you here."
"And I am glad to see you, and I'm also glad that you finally see me as a friend, or I would be a statue again."
He gently placed his paw on Twilights shoulder, helping her to her hooves with his claw.
"But... where is Fluttershy? When I broke out of my prison a few moments ago, I found Rarity franticly treating an injured Pinkie Pie, and she sent me to look for you."
Twlight let her head hang, and shook her head.
Discords jaw dropped, as tears forced their way into his eyes. He had cried in the past, but it was always out of joy, never mourning.... He turned towards Chrysalis, his eyes ablaze with black flames. His magic was still weak, since he had just broken out of his prison, but at that moment he wished nothing more then to blow that damn insect all the way out of the solar system.
"If I could Chrysalis, I would end you right NOW! But I will have to get Twilight out of here. Don't be too sure that I won't come back once I have done that. Where ever you go, whenever you turn your back on a dark corner, be sure that I could be in any of them! Be sure that I WILL come after you once I have that damn bracelet removed!"
He had immobilized her, shortly before she had changed her appearance. He could use his magic on her aslong as she did not do that, and could not prevent her from using her magic, but as long as she stayed transformed, she was safe from him..... for now.
With a snap of his fingers, Discord and Twilight disappeared in a quick flash of light, and Chrysalis could move once again.
They rematerialized in the streets of Los Pegasus, close to a barricade that was being attacked by ponies. A little further back, stood Celestia in utter suprise. The draconus and Twilight walked up to Celestia, who was more then delighted to see the both of them.
"Twilight! My faithfull student. I am glad you are ok. How are Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie? I hope they are alright. Also, I am glad to see you made another friend Discord."
"Remove that bracelet, NOW!"
The draconus demanded, pointing his claw at the golden bracelet.
"Why? I don't think it is quite the time yet to let you roam free."
"I want to put an end to all of this! I want to get rid of Chrysalis! Fluttershy is dead, and it is HER fault!"
"Discord... I can understand your feelings.... I feel the same. But please stop for now. I must talk to her."
"Fine Twilight... If you say so... But don't keep me waiting for too long!"
The draconus turned back to the barricade where several Changelings tried to fend of the attacking ponies. With a snap of his fingers he used his magic to get rid of them one by one.
"So Twilight, what did you want to talk to me about? I am kind of busy right now, as you can surely see."
"Fluttershy is dead, and Pinkie Pie is gravely injured. I need something to help Pinkie. Do you know any spells that could help? If so, please come with me, and help her."
Twilight looked up into her mentors eyes, but saw nothing but annoyance.
"Twilight, I told you already, I am otherwise occupied. I can't leave my forces right now, and I doubt you could learn the spell I have in mind fast enough."
"But princess! One of my friends is dying!"
"I heard you the first time. I am sorry for Pinkie Pie, but if I leave here, thousands could die. You are a princess now, you have to see the bigger picture. As for Fluttershy, I am sure we can find another bearer for the element of kindness."
Twilight could not believe her own ears. Her mentor... the pony she idolized above everypony else, was refusing to help her! To make matters worse, she was talking about replacing Fluttershy as if she was a broken tool, that needed to be replaced. Taking a few steps back, she shook her head.
"What's the matter Twilight? Please, if you would assist me here then I might be able to come with you. The sooner this battle is over, the sooner I have my hooves free."
"I just can't believe you!"
Twilight backed away from her even more, as if she was a terrible beast that wanted to devour her. Celestia did not understand. Why did Twilight react this way? Didn't she see, that she could not leave this place, until the battle was finished?
"Discord, let's go."
The draconus turned back to Twilight, looking at his friend with a confused expression on his face. But the unspoken question in his eyes, was only met with a shake of Twilights head. He turned to Celestia, and wanted to vent his anger on her, but Twilight placed a hoof on his chest. Before Celestia was able to say another word, the two of them had disappeared in a quick flash of light.
Celestia did not fully understand what just had happend, but she pushed the incident aside. Dicords boredom, had gotten rid of a good deal of Changelings. Right now, she had to concentrate on the battle at hoof. After that, she would be able to think about restoring the elements of harmony to their full strength.
In the hideout
Discord and Twilight stepped out of the teleportation spell. Twilight walked over to the bed, on which Pinkie Pie lay. In front of it, lay a crying Rarity, her face burried in her hooves. Not wanting to believe the indications, Twilight quickly ran over to check for herself.... There was still some pulse and breathing left in Pinkie, but her life signs were getting weaker. Twilight could see that Rarity had closed the wounds on their friend by sewing, but there was still blood seeping from her body. It was not much, but with as much as she had lost earlier, every drop mattered.
"Discord... PLEASE!"
She pleaded at the draconus, and pointed at Pinkie. Slowly he walked over, placing his paw an her sewed up left flank. Closing his eyes, Discord checked the pink party pony. A tear formed in his eye, as he shook his head.
"But you are the spirit of chaos! You even could turn Fluttershy into a Unicorn!"
"Twilight.... as sorry as I am... I can heal her body but.... Her soul has already departed... These are just the last traces of life force in her, that keep her body breathing."
"Then heal her! I'm sure her soul will...."
But Discord shook his head.
"Even if I heal her body, a departed soul can never be returned. I am sorry Twilight, but that is way beyond my power....."
"LIER!"
"Now now Twilight.... I may be many things, but a lier is not one of them.Believe me....."
As Twilight looked up from her friend,to check why Discord had stopped talking, she saw that the draconus had broken out in uncontrollable tears. They made him unable to speak as the rolled down his face.... At that moment Twilight remembered what he had said that day when they had first met...
"And my favorite.... laughter....."
He was sad over Pinkie Pies condition just as much as she was, and he hated himself for being unable to help her....
"How.... How long ago did her soul..."
"I... am not sure... But I would say... it was only moments before we came back...."
The two friends hugged each other, and Rarity while sobbing....
When Chrysalis drones dug the tunnel out, she had discovered the next day, she found three rooms that looked alot like furnished cells. Now she finally knew what had become of the cells, the elements of harmony had been in. But... the rooms were all empty. There was nopony there. In the back of one of the rooms, Chrysalis discovered a door made of a gemstone she had never seen before. It shone in all colors of the rainbow, and had two symbols carved into it.
One were three butterflies, while the other resembled three baloons. What ever she did, she was unable to open, or break the door. Even the rock around it's hinges, resisted any attempt of breaking it. As her drones tried to dig around the door, they soon found themself confronted with a wall, made of the same gemstone as the door.
Giving up on it, Chrysalis ordered the cells to be caved in, and the tunnel to be sealed. Whatever Discord had hidden away in there, she would not get at it, that she knew. Atleast, she thought to herself, she could also make sure nopony else was able to get at it....
Children of the night
Chapter 23
Returning home
Moonsinger stood on a hill, overlooking all of Hoofington. Due to her attack on the hive two nights ago, she was forced to rest before coming back here. What she saw, almost made her jaw drop. The town had barely changed from the last time she had been here. Sure it was bigger then before, but she could make out familiar streets and buildings. Even the big four story building, that had once been the orphanage she lived in, was still there. All around the city, she saw Changelings and mind controlled ponies patrol the streets.
Good for her and her forces, Hoofington still had no wall, so they would be able to come from whatever direction they wanted to.She quickly analized the situation, and carefully studied the paths the patrols where taking, before relaying her orders to her forces....
An hour later
Her forces were in position all around the city, and so Moonsinger gave the signal for the attack. They charged in, while the Unicorns in each group cast shield spells around their groups to prevent the Changelings from hitting them with their magic. As soon as the fight had begun, Moonsinger felt her blood begin to boil in her veins. It was a feeling she had never felt before, but she enjoyed it verry much and gave in to it. Every creature that was foalish enough to stand in her way, was crushed by her hooves, or her magic. She did not even hesitate to kill several mindcontrolled ponies that tried to attack her, instead of knocking them out.
After the battle was over, Moonsingers coat was stinched a deep red, from the blood of her foes. She stood there, in the remains of had once been Hoofington and watched around at her hoofwork. It was then, that the cry of a foal snapped her out of it. The foal was burrying it's face into the torn flank of one of the ponies she had killed, while the city around her burned. Moonsinger looked around in shock! What had she done? This was..... not what she had intended at all! She had wanted to free Hoofington, not burn it to the ground. Even the eyes of her Enforcers that looked at her from everywhere, were accusing her of going to far. They didn't have to tell her... she knew exactly what she had done, and loathed herself for it. This was one of the many reasons she had never wanted to become an Alicorn.
"Fire control teams! Get to work and safe as much of the city as you can! Evac teams, get the civilians out of here! It's to dangerous for them while everything is on fire!"
She shouted before grabbing the foal in front of her with her mouth and putting it on her back. Everypony around her nodded, and got to work. Moonsinger galloped through the streets of Hoofington, tears streaming from her face. She had lost control over herself.... That, she swore to herself, would never happen again... She would never again allow herself to be swallowed up by the heat of battle.... She teleported civilians out to the hill she had stood on left and right, while galloping through the flames of collapsing buildings. This was all her fault, she just HAD to safe as many of them as she could....
Four hours later
Finally, all the fires had been put out, but many of the ponies Moonsinger had wanted to rescue had been killed in her flames.... She stood in front of the Orphange she had once lived in, that was now just a burnt ruin and began to cry her heart out. She cried over all the ponies she had killed and all the destruction she had caused.... Zecora had warned her about it time and again, but she didn't listen.... She didn't know how long she had been sitting there, when a familiar voice came from behind her.
"I kinda thought I'd find you here Moonsinger...."
"Flametail... Come on, tell me that you think I went to far. I already know that I did."
"You did. But it was not your fault Moonsinger. You are not yet used to your powers, and let them get to your head. That could happen to the best of us."
"Not to mother!"
"Oh, I think you are quite mistaken there. Mother turned into Nightmare Moon, remember? Nopony is without flaw, and that inculed Alicorns."
"Alicorns are creatures of war and destruction.... I knew this long before I transformed...."
"But even so it may have turned out like this, my friend, you had the best intentions. Just remember to control yourself the next time we get into a situation like this."
"The path to hell.... is plastered with good intentions...."
"What?"
"Oh... ehm it's something mother said once.... So... report. What's the situation?"
"We have suffered a little over three thousand deaths and about four hundred injured. The population of Hoofington, according to the documents I could recover from the town hall, has been reduced to a mere thirty percent. Most of them died in the battle, or the resulting fire. The storage buildings on the southwest end of town have been spared by the fire, so they will have all the food they need, and the materials to rebuild everything that was destroyed."
"That is... atleast something... Are there any volunteers amongst them?"
"No. Actually a representative chosen by the survivors approached me earlier and asked, that we leave as soon as we can. We are appearently unwelcome here."
"Can you blame them? We have burnt down their homes and killed many of their friends and family.... Flametail, give the order for retreat. We will head north from here to Phillydelphia."
"As you wish Moonsinger, but what about you?"
"I have something I want to do. I will be right behind you."
Flametail took a last glance at his long term friend and commander, before he took to the air to relay her orders to their forces.
Moonsinger stood up, after she had made sure that Flametail was gone, and went into the former orpganage. Inside the building was burnt badly, but she could still imagine how it had been once. Her horn flashed pale white, and in a matter of seconds, the building rebuild itself. Fallen over and burnt furniture stood up on itself, while the firedamage seemed to reverse itself. The upper floors of the building began recontructing stone by stone, until it stood there as if nothing had happend. Moonsinger looked around. It was definitly the home of a family with several kids. The photographs on the walls indicated that. On several she could see an orange coated pegasus mare, embracing an earthpony stallion, and three foals... She just hoped that they had survived.
As Moonsinger stepped out into the street again, she could see that her spell was doing it's job. Hoofingtons memories were rebuilding the town itself. Everything had memories, even if it was not alive... Giving the town much of her magical energy, she had enabled it to rebuild. It was a spell she had used in the garden a few times, but didn't want to use any more. It used up much of her magic every time she did, and that had brought her to the brink of death a few times before...
Celestia was pleased with her hoofwork. Los pegasus had been freed under her command, while she had kept her losses to a minimum. Also the city had stayed almost completly intact, so there would be no need for massive funds to rebuild it. Now to get to that matter Twilight had asked her to do... Celestia closed her eyes, and tried to locate her student, but was unable to do so. She extended her senses, and combined them with the sun itself to widen her search radius, but still no sign of Twilight Sparkle.
"Can you blame her Celestia?"
"What do you mean Solar? I did what I had to do. This battle had to be fought and as a commander I can not simply leave the battlefield at my leisure."
Her mental passanger sighed.
"Celestia... I've known you for so long now, but this is a side of you I guess I will never be able to understand. Let me ask you, what is Twilight Sparkle to you?"
"She is my personal student."
"Nothing more?"
"Well... since I don't have any children, I guess she is kind of like a daughter to me."
"So... And this daughter came to you, pleading for your help in saving her friends life, and you refused. Can you really blame her for not wanting to be found by you anymore?"
"Well if you put it that way.... I have been a little heartless, haven't I? But I'm sure she will come around and understand that I was needed here."
"For what? That is what your second in command is for Celestia.... I can't believe I have to lecture you on strategy. A commanding officer in your ranks, is there to take command, should you be unable to stay in command, or have to leave suddenly to deal with a more important situation. Apple Candy is verry capable, so that's no excuse my friend."
"But still.... What if something had gone terribly wrong? I needed to be here...."
"NO! Where you had needed to be, is your students side. I know where she is."
"You do? But how? I can't locate her anywhere. Tell me."
"I won't."
"Why not? She is not only my student, but also the bearer of the element of magic. Equestria will need the elements in the future!"
"I respect her wish to stay hidden from you, and I can understand her reasoning. Celestia... you have lived over fifteen hundred years... I think it is time for you to question your own decissions, or you will end up alone..... Please take my advice, since I don't want you to end like me...."
"What do you..."
"And now we have talked enough Celestia.... Until YOU come around, I will lend you my power, but you will have to do without my advice or company. You have sent your student to learn about friendship.... without knowing the first thing about it yourself...."
With that, Solar Flare... former queen of the Alicorn tribe, secluded herself in the deepest corners of Celestias mind. All attempts the princess of the sun made to contact her, stayed unanswered....
Children of the night
Chapter 24
From the north
Two months had passed, since the three immortal siblings had started their counterinvasion. All three of them were on their way to Canterlot now, that was already under siege. Cadence and Diamond had arrived early, keeping Chrysalis and her Changelings confined within Canterlot. They could not enter the city either, since Chrysalis had raised a barrier, and they were to few to break it, but this had resulted in her forces being disorganized. Celestia, Luna and Moonsinger had been able to retake most of the cities without much resistance. The Changeling queen had called all her forces back to Canterlot, to prepare for her final stand.
Diamond stood amongst the twenty thousand drones she had bred before coming here. They had established a fireing line in front of the barrier, shooting magical bolts at it non-stop. At the other end of their lines, she could see Cadance. It was a strange sight for her. The princess was now the perfect image of a Changeling queen, but still had her soft ice colored mane and tail. Even her wings had not changed much. They had just turned black.
Cadence noticed Diamond staring at her, and trotted over to her.
"So, what do you think? When will they be here?"
"My drones have scouted the area and they say that a group of about twenty nine thousand ponies, led by a light brown Alicorn is closest to the city."
"Light brown? I don't know that one.... Maybe one of aunt Lunas children? Could your scouts see what her cutie mark was?"
"That's the funny part. They say she has the same one as your aunt Luna."
"Oh, then I do know her. It's Moonsinger. But... the last time I saw her, she was an Unicorn."
"Moonsinger you say? Then this battle will be over quicker then we thought."
"You know her?"
"Yes. About four hundred years ago, when I was approaching adulthood, my mother gave me a task to proove my talents. She convinced me she wanted to have peacefull relationships with the garden of shadows, which is your auts refuge. I was young at the time and did as I was told. I tried and established diplomatic relationships with the garden, and even stayed there for a while. They were all nice to me, and Moonsinger was their embassador. In the end, we were verry close to an agreeement, and had almost become something like friends, when my mother showed her true colors. At the day we were to sign the peace treaty, on neutral ground in the forest, she tried to get the jump on Moonsinger, to replace her with one of our drones. I have never again recieved such a beating, or been so close to my death. I helped Moonsinger escape my mothers treachery, and was punished for it. If she is an Alicorn now.... mother will be in for more then she has bargained for...."
"What do you mean? I mean, I know Chrysalis was strong enough to overtake my aunt Celestia."
"Celestia? I beg your pardon, but in a fight Celestia would not stand a chance against the Moonsinger I came to know. Once her eyes begin to glow, even my mother turned tail on every encounter they had afterwards. The empowerment she recieved from that magical spark of hers, is nothing to be taken lightly."
"But... Moonsinger told me that there have been drones that killed her kin."
"Oh yes, but it is verry difficult, and impossible if you encounter them inside the garden. You have to play with them, so they use up most of their sparks energy. When they are weakend like that, you can easily overtake them, but Moonsinger is special. Try to play around with her so she gets tired, and you play with your verry life. You know that our kin calls her Bloodsinger?"
"I had no idea. Why is that?"
"Because she is verry good with any magic that involves any kind of liquid. If you injure her, or she injures you, she can practicly draw the blood from your body, and use it as a weapon. I myself have seen her form a whip out of a fallen comrades blood, hitting every drone that so much as got close to her. Now you might think that a whipping should not really hurt us, but you are wrong. Her whips are as sharp as razor blades, and cut through our natural armor with ease."
"Sounds pretty powerfull."
"Indeed."
The two friends fell silent, awainting their reinforcements, that were sure to come soon.
Moonsinger galloped through a field of flowers, closely followed by her forces. The recapure of Phillydelphia and Muzzleton had gone much smoother then the one in Hoofington. But she had lost way more forces in them. While Muzzleton was just a small back water town, with barely a hundred Changelings in it, Phillydelphias defenders had been prepared for her. She had to take the town under siege, since she was unable to break through without risiking loosing most of her forces...
In approximatly two hours time, she would finally be in Canterlot. If she could get there fast, she would get rid of Chrysalis for her mother, and then forget this whole war even happend. Sure the dead would never be forgotten, but she knew that, aslong as it went on, she was just not able to make peace with herself.
Lunas forces trotted through Ponyville and were greeted with cheers of joy and acknowledgements. Her campaign in the south had taken longer then she had anticipated. Every time she had thought that she had finally eliminated all the Changelings that hid there, she had found another hideout of these insect like creatures. She had to admit, that she had felt a perverted kind of pleasure, every time they discovered another hideout. She would charge in there alone, and come out bloody. Mostly it were only groups of ten or twenty, but she took her time with them on occausion....
Celestia was also on her way to Canterlot, but her forces had just stopped back in the garden of shadows a week ago, so they would be the last to arrive at the city. Celestia envied her sister, who had passed through the garden the day before, with almost all her forces intact. She on the other hoof, had lost over half her troops, due to her mind being occupied with the whereabouts of Twilight Sparkle, and the unwillingness of Solar Flare to talk to her at all.
Chrysalis stood on the balcony of her bedchamber, holding the barrier protecting her city up. She could feel several great magical auras coming her way, but she was prepared. They would not arrive all at once... If she just could find a way to seperate them from their forces, she could pick them off one by one.... An idea struck her, as she remembered something from a verry long time ago, and a smile played around her lips. She would not give up Equestria that easily. If her plan worked, then she would deal with that "rebellion" and then start recapturing the rest of Equestria.
Stepping back inside she began to bark orders to her drones to prepare for the attack. Yes.... if she played her cards correctly... then even the garden of shadows would be hers at the end of this conflict....
Back in Ponyville, Big Macintosh watched the princess of the night and her forces pass through. He had volunteered to join them in their fight, but had been stationed as a rear guard, to ensure Ponyville was not taked from them again. He didn't like it too much. Just as the others, he wanted to be in the thick of the fighting. He wanted to be there when they found AJ and the others....
Princess Luna passed a particular red stallion, that had an ancient battle axe slung over his back, and approached him. She knew that stallion from her former visists to Ponyville, and she also knew that he was the brother of one of the elements of harmony.
"Hello there Big Macintosh. Whatever is the matter? You look downcast."
"Oh hi there princess. Ah was just thinkin', that ah would laike to join your forces...."
"I know Macintosh... Not knowing the fate of your sister and her friends, must be infuriating for you, but please believe me that you can do more good if you stay here. Somepony has to watch the rear, to make sure nopony attacks us from behind. You are strong, faithfull and would never let anypony down. That is why I trust you with that task.
"But..."
"No buts Big Mac. If the Changelings were to somehow retake Ponyville, or any of the other towns, we would be cut off from supplies and the garden. And if they were to put up an anti teleport barrier in the area, then they could pic us off easily. I need you and the others here, to prevent that from happening."
Big Macintoshs cheeks began to flush as he saluted her.
"Ah will do mah best princess."
"Good. And I promise you in return that, if I get any word of what happend to Applejack, I will let you know."
Luna walked away from the stallion, trying to keep her face straight. She knew what had happend to Applejack and the others, but just didn't have the heart to tell him. Just this morning a messanger from Cadence had found her, and reported that they had Canterlot under siege. She knew that Cadence would keep the Changelings busy until they all arrived, but she was worried about Moonsinger. Two nights ago Flametail had come to her. Thinking that her daughter was in trouble, she had immideatly wanted to gather her forces, but he had told her otherwise. The tale he told her however, was not a good one. After all of this was over, they had to find a way to revert Moonsinger back to an Unicorn. Were she to stay an Alicorn, there was a verry good chance of her getting corrupted....
Luna could not stand the thought of her daughter becoming a being simliar to Nightmare Moon.... She increased her speed, and began to gallop towards Canterlot. Her forces behind her, quickly adjusted their speed to hers....
Children of the night
Chapter 25
End of a tale
Diamond greeted her old friend, as the brown Alicorn arrived with her forces, to help them end the siege. They catched up on each other, since they had last seen each other.
"So, you have you own hive now? Sounds great! I just know you will do a better job then Chrysalis."
"I am honored you might think so. I do my best to enable my underlings to live alongside ponies. Something my mother has never ever even seriously tried."
Moonsinger face darkend.
"Yeah... I remember that only too well. Had I ended her back then, we might not have to deal with this crisis right now."
"Had you killed my mother back then, you might have made an enemy of me. Now, after that much time, I realize that it might have been for the best. But back then I was still young and idolized my mother too much."
"Can't really blame you. What daughter wouldn't? Oh by the way, hows the siege going? Any chance we can break that barrier?"
"I am sure we can break it with the help of your forces, but I would actually like to wait until the other two are here. We shouldn't rush things too much. My mother may be less inteligent then me, but she is standing with her back to the wall, and that maker her more dangerous then ever before."
"Ah relax. I could have taken her when I was an Unicorn. Now that I am an Alicorn, I have no doubt that it would be a quick fight."
"That might be true, but don't be too sure that you would be the winner Moonsinger. I can sense that you are quite full of yourself."
"Why shouldn't I? These insects can't stop me if I really get into it."
"These insects, as you call them, are my kin."
"Oh... ehm sorry... I didn't mean to offend you Diamond."
"No offense taken. But you should really choose your words more whisely. And besides, my point is still valid. Mother has absorbed so many feelings over the last months.... You can be sure that she is much stronger now then the last time you two met. Maybe even as strong as yourself."
"That is... highly unlikely."
"Unlikely, but not impossible. I know you are not a stupid pony, and I know you realize it as much as I do. The magic radiating from this barrier is enormous and threatening. I ask you to wait for Celestia and Luna to arrive before we attempt to breach it."
Moonsinger sighed. Sure, Diamonds drones where attacking the barrier all the time, but she knew that was only to weaken it, and preventing the magical shield from growing too strong. And yes, she knew that her friend was right. Chrysalis had fed so much over the last few months, that there was just no telling how strong she had gotten. As much as Moonsinger hated to admit it, but to wait until atleast her mother was in range, was the logical course of action.
"So... you are the newest addition to my family? Pleased to meet you again Moonsinger."
Cadance joined the two. The few Changelings standing on Canterlot walls, made not even the slightest attempt to attack them. On the other hoof, even if they wanted to try, they were unable to. Their queens barrier kept them inside, as much as it kept their attackers out.
"Family? I don't understand princess Cadence."
"No need to be so formal. We are both Alicorns, and further more, you are Lunas adopted daughter. Since Luna is my godmother, that makes you kinda my cousin."
Diamon began to chuckle.
"Don't you confuse Moonsinger. I can see it on her face, that she never thought about it like that."
Moonsinger gave the two an annoyed pout.
"I am not stupid! You just said so yourself. But yeah, I never thought about it that way."
"So "Princess Moonsinger", what do you say? Will you keep your head cool and wait for the others to arrive?"
"Not so easy, when you mock me with a title, I don't desire in any way!"
Cadance watched the two friends. She liked what she saw verry much. It showed that ponies and Changelings did not had to be enemies. They could, just as easily, become friends. Sometimes.... even lovers in her case.
The three commanders settled down, behind a shield spell Cadence had put up just in case, and enjoyed a late meal. It was as much a try to distract Moonsinger from her attack plans, as much is was just a simple lunch. Cadence had been shocked when she had seen her cousins forces. They were tired and exhausted. Some of them were even injured and needed medical assistance. She was sure that her cousin had maybe seen it, but was so determined to end all of this as soon as possible, that she had maybe misjudged her situation.
For several hours, the three of them just sat there. Had there not been the sound of magical bolts hitting the barrier, one might have mistaken the scene for a simple picnic between good friends. It was Moonsinger to notice it first. Her ears perked up and she looked to the horizon. There was a dustcloud rising up from the direction of the Mane forest.
"Alright! Mother is here. So let's start the action. I can't wait to see her face when the whole thing is over before she arrives here."
"Moonsinger. I thought we had agreed to wait for Celestia aswell."
Diamond was uncomfortable with the thought that Moonsinger wanted to start the charge, but was unable to talk her out of it. Each step crackling with power and eagerness, Moonsinger took position in front of her forces. Her horn glowed with magic and a small ball of pale white energy formed on it's tip. With a flick of her neck, she threw it at the part of the barrier, that covered the main gates to the city. To her own suprise... there was a hole blasted into it. She hadn't expected that, even through all her boasting earlier.
Not willing to question a good thing she sounded the charge with the traditional gardens battlecry.
"FOR MOTHER! SHOW THEM HOW DANGEROUS THE DARK CAN BE!"
All of her forces started to move, following close behind her, as she charged at the hole in the barrier. As she passed into Canterlot city limits, Moonsinger felt a joy, she had never expected possible. It was her first time in the lands capital, and she liked what she saw. Something was amiss, and Moonsinger noticed it, even so she was marveling over the beauty of the city. First of all, there were no defenders waiting for her as she still stood inside the gateway. The second was.... Where were her forces? The moment she stopped, they should have run past her. Moonsinger turned around, to find her soldiers beating on the barrier that was, once again, fully intact. She tried the same thing she had done earlier, and shot one of her magical bolts at the barrier....
It had no effect... She ran up to it and bucked at the barrier, but other then a loud thundercrack like sound, when her hooves struck it, there was no damage on it. Moonsinger shook her head. She had underestimated Chrysalis, and had run head first into a trap. And such an OBVIOUS one for that. All this time she had been concentrating on ending the war, that she had not thought ahead. She had not done, what would have been the only natural thing and what had saved her hide more then once.
"Why didn't I ask myself what I would have done? What's wrong with me?"
Luna galloped up to the barrier, having seen Moonsinger run into a hole in it, that had closed behind her daughter. She pushed her other children to the side, until they had noticed who was approaching, and cleared a way for her. There she was. Moonsinger stood just inside the gate, trying to break the barrier again. Luna could not believe it. She had to tell her daughter....
"GET-OUT-OF-THERE!"
She shouted, but it was too late. Small holes opend in the ground beneath her daughter and thirty-nine spear shot up from the floor, to impale everything they came in contact with. It was one of the few defense mechanisms she had been able to convince Celestia of.... And now that same one was impaling her own daughter...
Moonsinger saw her mother move her lips, but couldn't hear a single word. She tried to read her lips, but then a click sounded through the gateway. As she looked down, from where the click had come, she saw several holes, that had been covered with metal plates, open slowly. A second later, several spears shot out of them. Moonsinger tried to evade them, but to no avail. She tried to teleport, but her magic was not working for some reason... As she danced to her right, to evade one of the spears, another one shot through her left hindleg, pinning her in place. With a scream, she fell to her knees, when two other spears, pierced her wings, almost ripping them off. The pain was almost too much to bear for her right now. When two of the wooden deathsticks impaled her sides, her head dropped to the ground. The ones that came from the ground, she may have been able to outrun... But the ones that now came from the wall, made every attempt on escape impossible. Laying there, she turned her head to face her mother, who was now hitting the barrier in the same manner, she had just moments ago. Her voice barely above a whisper, she adressed her mother.
"H...elp...m"
She never got to finish her sentence, and Luna never heard the words due to the barrier. A final spear shot up from just under Moonsingers skull, impaling it and ending Moonsingers suffering....
Luna stood there... her eyes wide open and filled with tears. Her beating on the barrier became weaker and weaker, and she dropped down to all fours at first, before she sat on her haunches, unable to take her eyes of off her dead daughter. For a moment everything else went silent around her, until a black figure with green grimy mane walked cautiosly into the gateway. It started to prod at the now dead Moonsinger and started laughing.
Luna felt a rage well up in herself, that she had not felt in more then a thousand years. Tears still streaming from her face, she struggled to her hooves, and brushed off every hoof that tried to assist her. The magic that now whirled around her, started to change, from a pure pale white, to pure and nightmarish black. Like flames that burnt everything they came into contact with, her now black mane and tail reached out enveloping the whole barrier that kept her from getting to her daughter.
The Changelings looked up at the blackness that enveloped the city. They shrinked back in fear, as the darkness became absolute and blotted out even the light of the sun. They all looked up at a sky... that was nothing but black... just like a nightsky that had no a single star in it.
A loud cracking sound spread through Canterlot, as the barrier Chrysalis has put up to keep the invaders out, broke. The queen was startled when she found her spell broken. She had assumed, that it could withstand more then enough punishment, but now Luna alone had broken it. Before she could see again, she could feel a grip on her horn, and a numbing pain, as it was broken off. Chrysalis screamed as the pain coursed through her head and tried to make out her attacker, but still the darkness was absolute. Not even any sound traveled though it. It was as if every ray of light, and every ever so small noise was devoured by it. She couldn't even hear her own breathing....
"What's the matter Chrysalis? I thought you wanted to see with your own eyes, what the power of Nightmare Moon was like."
"You are DEAD! I saw it myself! My drones mutulated your corpse! YOU ARE DEAD!"
"Oh, but yes. Nightmare Moon, is no more. I am princess Luna of Equestria. But our affinity with the darkness, is pretty much the same."
Lunas voice was calm and mocking at the same time, as she walked in a circle around Chrysalis. She had made sure that the only thing the queen heard, was her voice.... Other then Chrysalis, she could see just fine in this complete darkness. She could feel her children, Cadence, Diamond and even Celestia try to get in through the barrier her mane and tail had formed. She would deny them entry... This was now something between her and Chrysalis. If it was just a matter of political infighting before, it had now turned personal. Luna would not anypony lay a hoof on Chrysalis, until she was done with her.
Chrysalis started to panic, swinging her hooves into the darkness, bucking into nothingness.... but she hit nothing. Instead, she felt the wind being knocked out of her lungs, as she went on a unvoluntary flight, only to be stopped by a brick wall.
"What is the matter "Queen" Chrysalis? I thought you wanted a fight. Is this really all you can do? You are pathetic!"
"You are not fighting fair! Let me see and you'll wish you never came here!"
"Fair? You accuse ME of not fighting fair?"
She was pulled out of the wall by her mane, and sent flying into the darkness once again, until she hit another wall, head first this time.
"You lure ponies into traps, and use the defenses I BUILD against my daughter. You weren't even brave enough to try and defeat her in an open battle. I just return the favor."
Chrysalis struggled to her hooves, staggering slightly. The force with which she had hit a wall for the second time now, had injured her some.
"That stupid Moonsinger! Had my daughter not betrayed me, I would have ended her centuries ag...."
Another hoof struck her, cutting her sentence short. This time, she hit the ground, snout first. Before she could try to recover, she felt that somepony turned her to her back and pinned her legs to the ground with a spell.
"So you've won. What now? Will you kick me out like the last time? Imprison me?"
"You don't deserve any of that."
The coldness in Lunas voice made Chrysalis shiver, and realize that she was in for more then she had bargained for. Before she could speak again however, a hoof burried itself deep in her gut. She could feel her intrails rip at the force, and her spine break. At the same time, her head was enveloped by a spell that she did not recognize. Hit after hit, her bones got broken, her organs smashed and the blood pressed upwards towards her mouth.
"THIS-IS-FOR-COOKIE-JAR!"
One more hit connected with her stomach, breaking all the way through her, and into the asphalt this time.
"THIS-IS-FOR-FROSTMANE!"
And again a particular strong hit rained down on her. Chrysalis could feel that her body was now nothing more then a mush of crushed bones and flesh. She did not understand why she was not dead yet, or unconciouss. And why the hay did she still feel every part of her body? Then it hit her, like a hammerblow. The spell around her head.... It kept her alive and connected with her body... It denied her the sweetness of unconciousness or death....
Screaming all the names of her children she had seen dying, Luna continued to bring her hooves down on Chrysalis. By now she had beaten her so often, and so hard that the both of them had broken the face of the street, and had fallen into the sewer system below Canterlot. Suddenly Luna stopped, looking up, as her mane and tail barrier was broken. She felt it practicly burn away, and it hurt her verry badly. In just the blink of an eye, she found herself being pushed against one of the walls of the sewers by Solar Flare.
"Let me go!"
"No! I won't! I like you Luna, and I didn't want to help Celestia any more until she sees her own mistakes, but I can't let THIS HAPPEN! You are not fully turned yet. You have to fight it! Don't let your anger and remorse take you over. It is the fastest way to become a vile creature like my sister was one. I don't want to see a good Alicorn like you, turn into something like that, ever again."
"But Moonsinger... Moonsinger...."
"Shhhh.... I know Luna, but torturing her will gain you nothing."
With that, Solar Flare negated the spell that kept Chrysalis alive. The second she did, the Changeling queens eyes broke, and she ceased to be.
Luna slowly calmed down, her mane and tail slowly returning to their usual state, reflecting the night sky. Also her magical color, that still swirlled around her, changed back to a pale white. Solar Flare embraced Luna, stroking her mane with a hoof.
"Thank you Solar."
"I did NOT do this for you Celestia. You still have not learned your lesson. In my eyes, you are a toddler that has barely any living experience and is unwilling to see her own mistakes."
"I beg your pardon? I am over fifteen hundred years old!"
"And I am over thirty thousand years old. So who is the one with more experience here? You know what? Don't answer that. You disgust me! Upon seeing your nieces dead body, the first thing you do is to ask ME to safe your sister, not wasting a thought for Moonsinger."
"I am sorry she is dead, but there was nothing I could have done. Luna however needed help!"
"She didn't! That insect NEVER stood a chance against her. The only thing I must admit, is that it was good I prevented her from fully turning. Had she, then all of this would have ended much, much worse. And for now, YOU stay in the background, until this crisis is resolved. I watched your meddling LONG enough!"
"You can't do that! I am the ruler of all of Equestria!"
Celestia thought at her mental passanger, and tried to overpower her, just to be thrown back forcefully to the back of her own mind.
"Don't try to fight me Celestia. I am in no mood for your temper tamptrums."
Gently, Solar Flare lifted Luna out of the sewers, while the fight around them was now on for real. The Changelings fought bravely, but they had felt their queens death. The attackers were quickly overpowering them. In addition to that, more and more of the ponies, that were now free of the mindcontrol, joined in on the fight, not letting a single one of their tormentors escape....
That evening, found Luna sleeping under a tree, outside of Canterlot. The battle inside the city was over, and Celestia was already in charge of the goverment again. She however, had refused to be reinstated. Solar Flare had told her everything. How her sister had treated Twilight Sparkle, the one and only pony she called her friend outside the garden, along with how she had reacted to see Moonsingers dead body. Luna had enough. Over the last one and a half millenia, she had watched her sister plot and scheme, but now she was tired of it. She awoke when Apple Candy nudged her side gently.
"What is it Candy? Is it time for us to go?"
"No, not yet mother. Celestia insists that you adress your subjects, and then decide if you really want to leave."
"And if I don't want to?"
"Well... she said she'd just make sure we'd be confined within city limits until you decide to do it."
"As always, big sis doesn't leave me any other choice. Verry well. Let's get it over with. You gather the survivors and get ready to leave as soon as I am done here."
"As you wish mother."
Luna made her way to the balcony outside the throneroom. Beneath it was a large crowd of gathered ponies. Celestia had already prepared a new set of royal vestments for her. A new crown, breatplate and silver horseshoes, but Luna did not put any of them on, or exchange a single word with her sister, before adressing the crowd of ponies. They no longer were her subjects. She was no longer a princess, and that decission was final. Using the royal Canterlot voice, to adress all of them, she began her speech.
"My fellow ponies,
you are once again free. My children of the night, have performed that feat, together with help of my niece Cadence of the Chrystal empire, and her ally, Diamond the new Changeling queen. Don't fred my fellow ponies, Diamond has ensured that none of her drones will ever have to attack a pony. They will live peacefully alongside us.
Also I am hereby declaring the Everfree forest, an indipendend nation. Nopony will be allowed to approach it in the futrue, unless Twilight Sparkle. If any of you see her, please relay that to her. That is my last act as a princess of Equestria."
At this the crowd began to murmur.
"I am no longer "Princess Luna". I am simply Luna, mother to the children of the night. And as any good mother should do, I will, from this day on, stay with my children, in the Everfree forest. Don't think that I reside there is a permission for any of you to approach it though. My children will guard the perimeter, and warn everypony that comes to close. Ignore their warning, and you will have to deal with the consequences.
I wish you long and happy lives, you Equestrians. I am no longer one of you..."
Witht that, before Celestia was able to stop her, Luna teleported herself out of the city limits, to her children. All of them looked tired and sad.They were happy, on one end, that Luna would now stay with them, but were mourning for their fallen friends. Luna let her eyes glow, reassuring all of them with some mental words, before the group of a little over sixty thousand ponies, started to make their way towards the Everfree forest.
Sixty four years later
"And that was all great grandmother?"
A blue coated pegasus filly with orange mane and tail, asked her orange coated and grey maned great grandmother. The Unicorn put a hoof up to her chin and thought for a moment.
"I think so Dawn."
"But what happend to the elements of harmony? You never told me! What happend to them? And where was Rainbow Dash, when Pinkie Pie was brought back injured?"
"Oh, that... Well..... many ponies think that they left Equestria for good, since they could not forgive princess Celestia for using them like tools. Others have told me they think they have gone with Discord to another world entirely. As for Rainbow Dash... She had gathered up Fluttershys animal friends and had asked Twilight to teleport her to the peak of mount Unicornia. There, in the snow of the mountain, she build a small cross from branches the animals brought her. It is still there. Onto the cross, she bound two feathers. One was from her own wings, while the other was a feather from Fluttershy she had found in their cell. When they were done however, Twilight had been in a too deep depression to teleport them back. They only reunited, when they all left the place, and Rainbow sure gave Twilight a piece of her mind, for leaving her up there for three days."
"What do you think happend to them? I mean, you seem to know alot about it all."
"I think they are still in Equestria somewhere... waiting for the day they can forgive and forget what has happend."
"But isn't that kinda stupid grandma Glow?"
"What do you mean Dusk?"
"I mean... if the princess simply appologized, they would be able to work it all out. You always told me, that there is no problem that can't be solved by talking."
The older mare sighed and stroked the orange mane of her great granddaughter.
"Yes... but... some things are hard to talk about. One party has to make the first move... And it won't work out it one of them does not see they did something wrong."
"So the princess is now all alone?"
"She is not alone. She acts, as if all of this never happend. Even so I have heard that, more then once, she tried to get into the Everfree forest, but was turned away by the children of the night. She once even tried to force her way in, but that didn't go to well for her. The will to talk is definitly there in her, but I doubt she accpets, that many left her side, because of the way she acted."
"That's sad. I mean.... If Luna and the elements would just talk to her..."
Midnight Glow shook her head.
"You are to young to understand my little angel. And now, I think it time for a certain little filly to fo to sleep."
"Awww.... but I still want to know some stuff..."
"Safe it for tomorrow. I promise, I will answer it all, when we visit Canterlot tomorrow."
"Yay!"
Glow tucked the blankets in around her great granddaughter, and couldn't help but smile. She was happy that her granddaughter, Evening Shine, had allowed her to have the little filly over the weekend. Even so, at her age, it was not so easy anymore to deal with this much energy. She put the lights out with her magic, and quietly left the room, walking slowly down the hall towards her living room. On the walls were many pictures of friends and family.... Also of her travels all over Equestria. She had written down everything she was able to learn about the Changelings attack on Equestria in these travels, and had spoken with many other witnesses....
As she approached a shelf in her living room, she took one particular picture frame of it, and held it in her hooves. As she looked at it, she broke out in tears. The photograph showed all of her friends.... And all of them were smiling... now she was the last of them.... The last of them, except herself, had died three months prior....
"You are crying again? Is there anything I can do for you?"
A familiar voice came from behind her, and she spotted a blue earthpony stallion with a red mane. His cutiemark was a green book.
"I... am ok Discord.... You can change back to your true form now. The little one is asleep."
With a puff of smoke, the image of the stallion dissappeared and before Twilight, stood the draconus she knew so well. It had been him who had gotten all of them out of their prison, and had enabled them to flee. He had also been the one who had made it possible for them to hide so well.... Discord had used his magic to change all of their appearances.... And nopony ever had seen through it in all this time.
The draconus stretched, before he walked over to Twilight, carefully putting his paw on her back.
"Twilight... I must ask you to reconsider... Please accept my offer, and I will make you a fully grown Alicorn. You will be immortal and everything!"
"Sorry Discord... I can't accept your offer. I don't want to die, but I have a family now. Where you to make me immortal, I would outlive them all, and after all I've lost, I don't think I could bear that. And NO, don't even think about making all of them Alicorns. Don't forget the political consequences that might have. Remember what happend when it became appereant that Cadence is not having trouble controling her emotions, but has instead inherited an Alicorns immortality?"
"Yeah... how could I forget.... Celestia really is paranoid these days... Full out war with the Chrystal empire for ten years... "But don't they have peace now?"
"It's not really peace. It's a ceasfire. Celestia must learn that Cadence never had any ambition on her throne, but being alone has done strange things to her I suppose."
"You could talk her into it..."
"Maybe.... but I won't. I have hidden from Celestia most of my life now. I don't hate her anymore, like I used to do, but I still can't fully forgive her... Neither does Luna I think."
"Have you ever gone to see her?"
"Looking like this? She wouldn't have recognized me. And even if I did, the Wonderbolts patrol that area night and day. Don't you think they would immideatly report it if somepony was able to enter the forest and get out again, when Luna made it clear only I am allowed inside?"
Discord picked up a flyer that lay on a small table, trying to distrct himself from what he had felt. The life force of his last friend in the world, was fading quickly.
"So you really want to take her there?"
He said, waving the flyer in front of her.
"Yeah... The Chrystal grave they call it.... For me it is the tomb of my friends. I don't like it that they excavated it and now made it a tourist attraction."
"But they can't get inside. I made sure of that. Not even Celestia and Luna together could break down that door. Only you can open it, just as you wanted it."
"And I can't thank you enough for that. We might had to split up in hiding not to be discovered, but that way we can atleast be together in death...."
The elderly Unicon mare said, hugging Discord. The spirit of chaos returned her hug, with a tear in his eye....
The next day
Midnight Glow, her great granddaughter, and her butler Green Script, walked up the excavated tunnel, that was the entrance to the chrystal grave. Many tourists from all over Equestria came on this day. It was the fourty sixth anniversaty of Equestrias victory, afterall. All marveled at the Chrystal door emblazoned with five symblos...
Three Butterflies
Three Baloons
Three Diamonds
Three Apples
A cloud with a Rainbow lightningbold coming out of it....
Midnights eyes started to tear up, as she looked at it. The symbols had appeared in the order they had died, and she had made sure they were brought here, before.... the change happend. She felt a hoof on her shoulder, and looked into Scripts green eyes as she turned around.
"Are you okay miss Glow?"
"Y....Yeah... Please Script, go back to Hoofington ahead of me. I just remembered that I have something else to take care of in Canterlot, and that could take me a while. You know... my old age."
The stallion looked worried at his friend, but then nodded.
"See you later great grandmother! Don't be too long."
The young Pegasus filly shouted as the two ponies left the Chrystal grave ahead of her. She looked around one final time and saw the blue stallion mouth a single word, without speaking it.
"Farewell..."
Twilight waited until all the tourists had cleared and it had become quite late, before she walked up to the chrystal door that showed her friends cutiemarks. Soon... it would hold her own aswell...
She put a hoof on the door, and it reacted to her touch immideatly and slid aside. As she stepped inside, the chrystal walls began to glow with a dim, rainbow colored light. In the middle of the room, where six pedastals.... On each of them lay a chrystal, in which a pony seemed to sleep. Each and every one of them had been returned to the state as of the day they had first met. "Chrystal grave" seemed pretty much on the point the more she thought about it...
Twilight walked the line of her dead, and conserved friends. The change had come soon after their deaths, and they had all witnessed it with Fluttershy first... She had turned back to being a pegasus about an hour after her death. Soon after, her body was, without anypony able to explain why it happend, enclosed in a thick shell of chrystall. The same had happend after Pinie had died. Her strong muscles had faded, and her mane and tail had become poofy once again... before she aswell had been surrounded by chrystal....
By the time Rarity had died, the friends had already anticipated a change, but what had actually happend, had left them all speechless. Not only did her horn and eye regenerate, but she seemed to age backwards. Before the Chrystal had closed around her, she was, once again, just a mare of nineteen....
It had happend to Applejack and Rainbow Dash aswell.... and so it would to her, once she took her place on that last.... the sixth pedastal...
This was, when she felt an aura, she had not felt this close to herself in many, many years.... A soft, but trembling voice called out to her...
"I knew I'd find you here...... my faithfull student..."
Children of the night
Chapter 1
The great escape
Several guards galloped through the night in Everfree forest, along with princess Luna. One of them carried an injured princess Celestia on his back, which slowed them down considerably. The uncomfortable atmosphere inside the forest was something that made the guards flinch on every ever so small noise. The predators of this forest avoided the group of heavily armed ponies, that galloped through their territory. But it was not their armor or magic that frightend them off.... It was what followed the group that made even the Timberwolfs flee.
„How far have we until we reach safety your highness?“
Captain Shining Armor asked Princess Luna while maintaining his position in the defensive formation around her and Princess Celestia.
„It is still a long way until we arrive at the place we have in mind. We must simply hold on and hope that....“
But the Princess of the night did not get to finish what she was saying.
A bright green flash of magic cut through the darkness and was headed straight at her. Shining Armor, devoted to both Princesses, shoved Luna aside to get her out of harms way, but taking the spell himself. Luna felt metal on her flank before she was shoved aside and tumbled to the floor of the forest. The group around her, came to a stop and she just wanted to lash out at Shining Armor for causing her to fall, when she saw the Unicorn Guard captain laying on his side, breathing heavily. A great portion of his barding had been literally ripped off his body and the right side of his body was spourting blood like a fountain. She saw now what must have happend. He had seen an incoming attack, and was unable to cast a counterspell in time. So he did the only thing he could think of.... Throwing himself into harms way.
„Captain Shining Armor! Oh by Celestia... We have to get you out of here. Guards take.....“
But again Luna was interrupted.
Several bolts of green magic cut through the night and the group had to duck to avoid them. One look at Shining Armors face, while she ducked showed her, that he would not stand for being an additional burden on her guards. However, she could not just let him die here. He had done so much during the inital attack on Canterlot, and kept her safe up till now. He had been the only one of all her guards that had not mistrusted her after coming back from her thousand year exile on the moon, and now this...
Shining Armor saw it in Princess Lunas eyes. She would not leave one of her subjects behind if she could help it. A glance to his foalhood friend, Goldshield, was all it took and the White coated Earthpony mare grabbed hold of Princess Luna, together with two other guards and dragged her away.
„Thank you Goldshield....“
Shining Armor muttered to himself and tried to get up. His injury was bad and he knew it. At this rate he wouldn't see another sunrise... So he decided to do what he could, as Captain of the royal guards Uncorn devision. He would buy the Princesses time.... As much time as they needed. His determination was unbroken as he stood unsteadily on his legs,
casting a barrier spell that cut the side of the forest he was standing in off from the one their pursuers came closer every second. Holding a barrier of this size usually was no problem for Shining Armor, but with his injury beads of sweat quickly formed on his brow, while the Changelings once again tried to break his barrier....
Goldshield was galloping alongside Quick Arrow and Cherry Pie, while the three of them kept Princess Luna restraint, who was struggling violently to free herself from their grasp.
„Let us go! Captain Shining Armor is not dead yet, we can still help him!“, she screamed.
Cherry Pie looked downcast having to disobey her princesses orders, and so did Quick Arrow. The two Pegasi had, like herself, served in the royal guard ever since they had left school, and were used to obey the Princesses every order. Behind them six other guards kept a defensive formation around Pin Cushion who was carrying Princess Celestia. They galloped for a while, whithout any incident, and without Princess Luna ceasing her screaming, when Gold Shield finally snapped.
„Captain Shing Armor is giving his life to protect us. Please don't disgrace his sacrifce by endangering yourself in a futile attempt to safe him!“
Luna was shocked at such boldness and coldhearted calculation. Wasn't Shining Armor a comrade to this Earthpony? But then she recognized the mare that held her left front hoof in her grab. It was Guard Captain Goldshield... Foalhood friend of the left behind Shining Armor. From the corner of her eyes, Luna could see tears trickeling down her face as she continued to gallop deeper into the forest.
Shining Armor was straining himself to keep the barrier up, but the ground beneath him was already slippery with his own blood and he felt lightheaded and tired. How did all this happen? He and his wife, Princess Cadance, had been invited to Canterlot to attend the crowning of his younger sister, Twilight Sparkle, as newest Princess of Equestria. After the actual ceremony Twilight had held a procession through the streets of Canterlot, and that was when all had started to go wrong... Many Ponies in the crowd suddenly started to attack their fellow Ponies. Screams of delight and joy had turned into screams of pain and horror.... The royal guards tried to arrest the troublemakers, but verry soon it had become clear to all of them that they were, once again, dealing with changelings.But these were different somehow. They actually killed some Ponies and enchanted others to attack.Shining Armor had lost a few of his comrades to such attacks. The tide of the battle was quickly turning against the defenders, since they not only had to deal with the invaders, but also with the mindcontrolled citizens of Canterlot. The moment he had sounded the retreat however, was when Queen Chrysalis herself had entered the frey ,and sweeped away a whole squad of guards as if they were flies.
They could not have won this battle, and their last stand happend in the throne room of the royal palace. Twenty guards from different divisions, and the two royal sisters... Nopony else had made it there. The fate of his wife and sister unknown, Shining Armor was ready to attack Queen Chrysalis in a fit of rage and desperation, but was held back by Goldshield. A moment later, Princess Luna had teleported all of them to the edge of the Everfree forest. But not before Chrysalis had inflicted a painful wound on her sister, Princess Celestia. Nopony had been comfortable with the plan to hide in Everfree forest, but Princess Luna had promised them a safe place within it. A place where the Changelings could never hope to enter....
The magic around his horn began to fade slowly, as his life spilled onto the forest floor. Shining Armor knew that this was most likely it, and he stood tall and proud as his magic failed. The barrier fell and several Changelings rushed towards him... Shining Armor did not close his eyes however. He was proud to have fullfilled his duty to the end. His last thought before the first Changeling reached him was his only regret in his life....
„I'm sorry I couldn't protect you... Twilight.“
Luna galloped alongside the guards again throwing concerened glances at her sister every now and then. The wound that Chrysalis had inflicted on her neck seeped blood ,and her usually pure white coat was already stinched a deep brown from dried blood.
Not much farther... We are almost there! We can make it! Just a little further! If we just can make it there..., Luna thought, as panic slowly creeped into her thoughts. It would only be a little while now until they reached her refuge. The place that not even her dear sister knew about.... Her sister belived that her turning into Nightmare Moon, had been her only rebellion against her decissions... Soon Celestia would find out that her younger sibling had stopped listening to her every word long
ago, and that it had been better that way, even so Luna doubted that Celestia would see it that way. Just as Luna thought they had lost their pursuers, several pairs of green eyes lighted up in front of them, causing the group to tumble to a stop. Three of the rear guards almost lost their balance at the sudden appearance of enemies in their close proximaty.
Goldshield could not believe it. They had come so far, and even so she did not know how far they had yet to go, she trusted in Princess Luna to know what she was doing. Had she not, she would never have agreed to enter Everfree forest, and especially not at night.
"Defensive Formation! Protect the Princesses! Don't let anyone of them get past you!"
Goldshield shouted and everypony obliged to her order. With Shining Armor gone, she was the commander of this unit afterall.... The thought of Shining Armor gave her a sting in her heart.
„For your sake Armor, I WILL keep the Princesses safe.... even if it is the last thing I do...:“
She thought and was ready to throw herself into the upcoming fight, when she noticed a bright light coming from behind her.
Instinctivly she glanced over her shoulder, seeing Princess Luna standing right behind her, her horn aglow with magic and her Eyes glowing like the moon itself. She had seen those eyes before. It usually happend when the Princess of the night lost her temper, which happend less and less recently. But this time was different. Princess Luna did not eminate any
hostility or rage. Instead Goldshield felt as if she was called towards the Princess. It felt like an urgent thing to do. Something that blotted out anything else on her mind. She felt that, no matter what might happen to her, she had to protect …. mother.
Goldshield shook her head violently. Mother? Where did that come from? Princess Luna was in no way related to her, and even less her mother. The feeling receeted as the Princesses eyes returned to their normal bright green color and she took an offensive stance. Her wings outstretched to make herself look bigger as she was, and her horn aglow with magic once again, Princess Luna made her way, to stand next to Goldshield.
„We have to hold out only a little while. Help is on it's way.“
„Help? But from....?“
Goldshield was interruped however by a Changeling jumping at her throat. Princess Luna turnedaround faster then any of the Ponies present could have anticipated and bucked at it. Her hoofes struck true and the Changeling was thrown back against a nearby tree. A sickening crunching noise was heard when it hit the tree, head first, and lay still on the forest floor.
„What are you waiting for? Are you scared of one not even fully grown Allicorn?“
Princess Luna taunted their attackers as they backed away at the sight of their comrade being killed with just one hit of the Princesses hoofes. As they slowly tried to withdraw into the shadows again, to wait for reinforcements no doubt, more eyes lit up in the darkness behind them. These however where not green as their own, but white as moonlight. Eight Ponies jumped the fifteen remaining Changelings.
Goldshield was amazed at the strength Princess Luna had just demonstrated. Did she even need all of them if it actually came to a fight, or would they just be in her way? Not only that caught her attention, but also the look in her eyes concerned her a bit. She knew nothing of the Princesses life before she became a ruler of Equestria, but this look was one of determination. A determination to crush everypony that was foalish enough to get into her effective range.
As several pairs of white eyes lit the darkness behind the now frightend Changelings, Goldshield thought that they had called in reinforcements at first. But soon she realized that these eyes belonged, not to Changelings, but to Ponies. Ponies that, without a second thought, jumped the changelings that outnumbered them almost two to one. Her first impulse was to rush in together with the other guards and assist these Ponies who had come to their aid, but an outstretched hoof
from Princess Luna stopped her. Goldshield was about to protest as a Changeling flew past her, his skull crushed in by a hit from a front hoof of one of the Ponies.
„It will be difficult as it is, so please do not insult their honor by interfering with their fight.“,Luna said
„Who are these Ponies, your highness?“
" You will find out, soon enough. For now, we must run. We are almost there and they will keep the changelings off our backs until we arrive at our destination.“
The other Guards were already on the move again, when Goldshield was still staring at a particular Unicorn mare, with a light brown coat and dark brown ears. Her orange mane and tail flurred though the air as she bucked at a charging changeling while throwing two others against nearby trees with her magic. Her expression was not one of fear of death or injury, but of determination to not let a single one of them escape.
„MOVE!“
Princess Luna shouted at her, when she was staring at the Unicorn in awe. Immideatly she followed the Princess into the darkness between the trees. A last glace over her shoulder revealed that the Changelings that had attacked them, actually tried to run for their lifes....
A few minutes later
Luna loathed what she had to do, but there had been no other way to safe her life and that of her sister. Out of the darkness in front of her, a barrier of dark purple came into sight. A barrier, she herself had raised more then a thousand years ago. As she and her group approached it, a small hole opend in it, letting them enter her refuge.
Goldshield gasped as she galloped through the barrier that had come into sight just a few moments ago. She saw houses and streets, lit by streetlamps. The streets of this settlement were buzzing with activity. But what made her take a defensive stance, was the group of seven Ponies, that had gathered around them in a half circle. She quickly recognized the Ponies that had taken care of the Changelings earlier. Their eyes had stopped glowing, and they seemed to completly ignore her, the other guards and even Princess Celestia. All their eyes were on Princess Luna. As they started to run towards the Princess, Goldshield wanted to put herself between them and her, fearing an attack, having seen them fight earlier. As Princess Luna ran towards them aswell however, she was stopped in her tracks by suprise. All of them hugged the Princess, and the Princess was more then happy appreantly to return the hugs with her front legs and even her wings.
Tears flowed from Lunas eyes as she was able to embrace her long lost children once again. All of them were crying ,and some were even trying to climb her back, but she let them be, since she could relate to their overflowing joy.
„Mother!“
A voice from a corner of the nearby buildings caught Lunas attention. Her ears jumped up at the voice. She had recognized the bearer of this voice earlier when her children had come to protect her. As the voice sounded, the others stepped back from her and made way for a brown Unicorn mare with dark brown ears and orange mane. Her eyes were the same green as Lunas and as she stood before her, Luna embraced her,
Goldshield could not believe her eyes. The Princess who has had so much problems relating to her subjects, was embracing Ponies who... strange enough, called her „Mother.“ As far as she knew, the Princesses did not have any children. Furthermore, these Ponies were Pegasi, Earthponies and Unicorns. There was not a single Allicorn among them. These impressions still having to settle in, the Unicorn mare she had seen fight earlier, stepped out of the darkness near a building. What Goldshield had not been able to see before, because of the darkness, was her cutie mark. Now the light of a streetlamp enlightend the mares flank and showed the exact same cutie mark, Princess Luna had on hers.
Chapter 3
Chrysalis was standing in the courtyard of Canterlot castle, among a crowd of captured Ponies and their Changeling guards. She could, of course, just force them into obidience with her magic, but where would be the fun in that? No. That just wasn't good enough. She had waited for her moment of triumph for so long, she just knew she had to enjoy every second of it.
In the center of the courtyard, stood one of the Alicorn Princesses of Equestria. That annoying mare that had ruined her plans last time with her stupid "love". She had resisted hard, but in the end her Changelings had managed to restrain her. Now, in the light of an early morning sun, stood Princess Cadance chained to the ground in the courtyard. Her pink coat and soft ice colored mane, dirty and untidy. Chrysalis chuckled when she thought about the Y-shaped gadget, that held Cadence's hips in the air. Cadance on the other hoof, threw herself against her restrains, but with her horn magicaly silenced, there was no way she could break those chains. Every scream the Princess gave was like music in Chrysalis's ears. This was the sole reason, she had not gagged the stupid Princess. She wanted her to scream, wanted her to beg for mercy, wanted her to beg for more once she was broken. Everypony in the audience shall see it, to remind them how powerless they were in the end.
"Let me go! What are you planning you damn insect?"
A stirr to her left caused Chrysalis to look around at another Princess she had caught recently. The element of magic... Now even little fillies could become Allicorns... How it disgusted her. She herself had caught this one, when she had tried to ambush her on the streets of canterlot, after the guards had sounded the retreat. She didn't remember this ones name, but she knew that she was somehow related to Cadance. That was enough reason for her to have her around when this happend.
Twilight could do nothing to help her foalsitter, and fellow Princess. Her horn had been silenced, and her body was wrapped in chains from neck to tail. Her wings ached under them, but again there was nothing she could do about this. She felt powerless, but still she fought on. She wanted to shout out to Cadance to encourage her, to ensure her that, no matter what happend, she was there for her, but the gag in her muzzle prevented even that. The four changelings holding her reigns stood around her, keeping her in place, and preventing her from looking away from Cadance. Tears formed in Twilights eyes, as a strong kick hit her flank and almost broke her right wing, even through the chains.
"Stop stirring you stupid mule! The show is about to start!"
Twilight watched as a changeling approached Princess Cadance from behind. No, there wasn't just one of them.... Several stood in line, as if waiting to get their.... turn? Understanding dawned in Twilight's mind as the changeling hopped onto Cadance, and mounted her. The Princess of love screaming in terror and pain.
"No! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Get away! Pull it out! PULLL IT OUT!"
A gasp ran through the Ponies in the crowd, while the Changelings began to clap and cheer. Chrysalis just smiled wickedly. This kind of treatment suited her just right. She was the Princess of love after all, so Chrysalis merely gave her what she wanted. She had over a hundred volunteers for this job and they would keep this mule busy until she collapsed from exhaustion. After today, this would be the morning ritual in canterlot castle. Turning away she smiled, as she made her way back into the dungeons. There were other Ponies to break, before this day was over.
Applejack opened her eyes slowly. Everything around her seemed to be blurred, so she couldn't make out anything. Her head felt heavy and she wanted to go back to sleep, when a familiar voice draged her back to the waking world.
"You are finally awake darling. Are you alright? Does it hurt?"
Hurt? What was supposed to hurt? Applejack didn't understand what Rarity was talking about. And where the hay was she? Why was Rarity with her? A dull pain in the back in her head flared up when she tried to remember what had happened earlie. She and her friends had been in Canterlot, to attend Twi's crowning ceremony.... Then... during the prosession through Canterlot... Applejack jolted fully awake, the last remnants of drowsiness washing away like dirt after a hard day on the farm.
"The Changelings! Rarity! Whaddabout the Changelings?"
"Just look around and you can see for yourself. I guess it's hard to miss."
Applejack looked around. The first thing she noticed was a big metal ring around her midrift, that held her in place. The dark stone walls that made up the walls of the room she was in, were damp an there was water trickling from some of them. Even the smell wasn't too pleasant. As a farmpony, she was used to foul odors , but this place smelled like rotten mushrooms and week old Pony dung. Her head sank as she realized that she was most likely in some kind of dungeon. Rarity however, she could not see. The cell had a solid metal door, so she couldn't have seen her wake up from another cell....
"Rarity? Oh Ponyfeathers, com'on out. That ain't the time fer hide'n seek."
To her left, Applejack saw a white hoof step out of the shadows and a single blue eye was illuminated by the light shining through a whole in the ceiling. It was most likely Rarity, but she didn't step all the way into the light so she could see her. Frustrated Applejack tried to raise one of her forelegs to stomp the ground, but Rarity's voice stopped her.
"Applejack, look at your hooves... If I were you, I would not try to move my legs. They said they gave you painkillers... So you could "enjoy" the pain slowly creeping back".... I'm so sorry Applejack...I could do nothing to stop them...."
As Applejack looked down on her forelegs, she immideatly noticed that they were bent in odd angles, in places where there were no joints. Panicked she turned her head and took a look at her hindlegs... What she saw made her blood freeze in her veins. Her legs, where crooked and twisted. Her joints and the bones attached to them, must have been broken, to make them look like this. Her mind raced franticly over what Rarity had said...
"They have given you painkillers...."
If those painkillers stopped working, the pain from four broken legs would flood into her conciouss mind. The farmpony didn't want to admit it, but that pain would most likely drive her into insanity. One last shimmer of hope shone through the darkness. Rarity was in here with her. If she could use her telekenisis, she could atleast set the bones right. Sure she would never be able to buck Appletrees as hard as before, but she would atleast be able to walk, in a few weeks time.
"Rarity, suggarcube... can ye' do mah a favor?"
"If I can.... but I doubt that I can...."
"Could ya use yer magic to atleast set mah bones right? Ah know mah days as a farmpony are over, but ah don't wanna end up crippled."
There came a slight sobbing noise from the shadows in which Rarity stood.
"I am sorry Applejack... I... I can't do that..."
"But why not?"
Slowly, full of hesitation like a filly who knows she did something wrong confessing to her mother, Rarity stepped into the light. There was an eyepatch over her right eye ,and a trickle of blood flowed down her face from beneath. Her whole body was covered in cuts, that would leave scars for sure. But what made Applejack gasp in horror was her forehead... There, where her Unicorn horn should have been, was nothing but a bloody stumb....
"Oh Rarity... What happend?"
"They left me a choice Applejack... They said they'd saw off your legs and leave u here so I could watch you die, or I could sacrifice my eye and horn, and they would only break them.... To my shame, Applejack, I hesitated... They had already cut me, and I didn't want any more pain... But I convinced myself in the end that your legs, even if broken and growing back together the wrong way, could be mended eventually... I can live without two eyes and my magic, even so my days a dressmaker, are over aswell...."
Raritys voice quivered as she spoke, but she stood in front of Applejack, looking down on her firmly.
Applejack didn't know what to say to that. Her friend had sacrificed part of her body so she could keep her legs... She didn't like to be endebted to somepony, but this was a debt she would never ever be able to repay. A sharp pain in her haunches make her wince, as Rarity suddenly raised a foreleg.
"I'm so sorry Applejack... I may not be able to mend your legs, but I can atleast knock you out again, so you don't have to feel the pain creeping up on you..."
"Wait!"
But everything around Applejack turned black again as Raritys hoof struck the side of her head.
Chrysalis watched the spectacle from an observation room, on the upper floor of the dungeon. Cameras where a fine invention with so many uses. Three screens where lined up in front of her, each showing a cell. Two of them contained two Ponies. The last one contained only that annoyingly hyperactive element of happiness. Once the "show" in the courtyard was over, that new Princess would be brought in there with her. After seeing what she had seen, that element could TRY to cheer up her friend as much as she wanted, but there was little chance for success.
Chrysalis rubbed her frontlegs together, enjoying her plans. Once the bearers of the Elements of Harmony were broken, the Elements would surely look for more suitable hosts, but that could take a while. During that time, they at least wouldn't be a threat. Ofcourse it would have been faster to just kill them, but now where was the fun in that? On the other hoof, keeping them alive, even if just barely in some cases, they could prove to be a threat if Celestia somehow managed to free them... But even so... Even if the Elements did NOT choose new hosts, then maybe she could use some soulless puppets, Especially if they beared such powerfull ancient magic.
A few hours later
It was already afternoon, before Cadance fainted in the couryard. Her lower body was dripping a mixture of semen and blood, as two changeling guards dragged her away. All through the procedure, Cadance had screamed threats of retalliation and pleas for mercy.... Twilight had been forced to watch all of it. Many of the surrounding Ponies had vomited several times, throughout the disgusting "show". Some had even vomited on her, but she didn't care... She loathed herself, for feeling disgust at Cadance, who had shaken shortly before she had fainted. Twilight knew she had tried her best to disguise it, but there was no mistaking the signs. Cadance had been raped for hours, and in the end she had cum....... The look on her face a moment before she fainted, had given it all away. Finally the Changeling in front of her, loosend the grip on her reigns a bit so she could finally take her eyes off of Cadance.
A few minutes later, in a solo cell of the dungeons
Cadance came to her senses again. Her lower body burnt terribly, but it was not like there was anything she could do about it. As before, her hooves and wings were restrained. But... something was different from before. It didn't take long before she realized that her hips were, once again, held up with that strange gadget from before. Did they plan to continue what they had started in the courtyard? When the door opend, and a Changeling stepped into her cell, she readied herself for a continuation of the mutilation from before. The Changeling however made no attempt to do so... Due to her being gagged again, she couldn't speak and only watch as he pulled out an injection from a bag he had brought with him. A short sting in her Rump and Cadance felt sleepy once again. She managed a glare at the changeling that stood behind her, she hoped it, showed all of the rage she felt just now, before she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Ragkar watched as the Pony Princess fell asleep. He did not know why, but for some reason his Queen was quite eager to keep some of these Ponies alive, and let them keep their free will. He, as one of the healers of his hive, had been made personally responsible for the well being of this one. His comrades really had a field day with her. Her Vagina was bleeding badly, and her rectum was badly wounded as well... He sighed. This would take him almost all night and a great amount of healing magic, to make her ready by the next day. Usually he wouldn't have rushed such a treatment, but his queens orders were absolute... She had enjoyed the show way too much to only have it once every few days, so he would most likely, have to pull an all nighter every night for a while. Until the Pony died at least. This was something he was sure of. Changeling body fluids were poisonous for Ponies. So he extracted all the semen his comrades had poured into her, some signs of poisoning were already showing. They were not visible for the untrained eye, but he could see them. Openening her eyelids a bit, he saw small black dots appreaing in her eyeball. All over her coat were dark patches, that were not bruises.... Ragkar sighed again. This one would last only a week, maybe a little longer if he was able to brew some kind of antidote, but in the end it would be the same. He wondered what this one could have done so that his queen would go to this extend as to punish her. It was a death sentence... A very slow and very painful one indeed... Ragkar shuddered as he remembered the experiments one of his fellow healers had conducted. The idea behind them had been crossbreeding between Changelings and Ponies. What the profit for the hive would have been, he never understood.
For that cause, they had captured an Earthpony mare, since they were rumored to be the most sturdy ones. The Earthpony had died only three days after being captured. She had been impregnated, but it had killed her. His Queen knew about this... He shook his head. Enough doubting his queen. She knew what would be best. Once again he concentrated on his healing spell, mending the external and internal cuts on the mares body. But one thought kept slipping back into his mind....
"As a healer I am sworn to mercy.... Wouldn't it be more merciefull to just kill her right here?"
Children of the night
Chapter 20
Mass destruction
Moonsinger trotted through the forest, Bright Light and Flametail at her sides. A few hooves behind them, her platoon followed the trio. She could have reached the edge of the Everfree forest an hour ago, but had chosen not to. She was a field commander now and had to consider all the variables and options. That much atleast she had learned from Celestia.
"Are you sure about this dear?"
"Yes Light. This has to be done, and maybe.... if I had done this a long time ago, then we might never have faced this crisis."
"But we never really had any reason to do it Moonsinger. Killing is, by our mothers rules, only allowed in defense."
"I know Flametail, but we are on the offense now. We must take every advantage we can get, and this has to be done if we are to stand a chance."
Flametail and Bright Light sighed. Moonsinger had made up her mind, even so both of them had tried to talk her out of it. Her orders were quite clear. Was she not back in twenty minutes, they were to go to Hoofington without her, and assume she had not made it. Both of them didn't like it, but she was right. The Changelings needed to be dealt with, but the children of the night had so far refrained from whiping them out. Moonsinger however, was now intending to do just that, or atleast to cut off their reinforcements. Bright Light hated the idea that his wife would kill children, but he had not been able to convince her to stop.... Instead all his pleading had only made her decide to go alone...
He turned back one single time as he and Flametail walked back to the platoon. Moonsinger however, was already gone.... Bright Light hoped, that his wife would atleast make it quick...
Moonsinger galloped through the night. She had left her platoon in a safe distance away, so nopony would get hurt. She still had a bit of a problem completly controling her talent, but she had to do this. She was safe, since the moon would never hurt her.
Coming to a stop, she could see the Changeling hive only a few hundred meters away. It was a sight that had no equal. The hive rose up into the air several hundred hooves and was wound like a screw. It's simetry was wonderfull, and the smell radiating from it was sweet and pleasant. Moonsinger regretted what she was about to do, but would not falter. This had to be done. Closing her eyes, and replacing her natural eyesight with the view of the moon, she gallopped into the hive and began to sing.
Celestia had reached a point close to the edge of the forest with her platoon, but had chosen to stay inside for the time being. Besides, her soldiers were creatures of the night, so they would have to rest during her day, which was soon to begin. Just as she wanted to give the order to set up camp, the ground beneath her hooves began to shake and a sound like a million thunderbolts made every fiber in her body vibrate. Also.... the mana she felt... She left her squad behind, while they tried to stay on her hooves, or atleast keep each other from falling onto each other, and flew upwards. In the east, she could see a giant dustcloud rising into the air. From the moon, that was still in the sky, she saw millions of spears made of light, rain down on the place from where the dustclouds point of origin was. She immideatly knew what her niece had done, and a smile played around her mouth.
"So you did listen to what I tried to teach you...."
Luna also felt the mana that was raining down on the Changeling hive, but did nothing to stop it. She facehooved, and shook her head.
"Damn you Moonsinger. Didn't I tell you NOT to use it in battle?"
Even so, she had to admit that it was a necessary course of action. The hive would have been taken out sooner or later, and doing it this way, was the quickest and safest way. She didn't like it however. Luna had wanted to turn to the hive, once she had checked the wasteland southeast of Appleloosa for hiding Changelings, but now Moonsinger had taken that out of her hooves....
Moonsinger was panting hard when she stopped her song. Where the hive had been only minutes ago, there was now only a deep shaft, that went down several hundred hooves. She had to sing longer then she had anticipated, so she had overexerted herself a little, but it was done.... The Changeling hive was no more. She had jsut killed millions of Changelings, many of who were not even hatched yet.....
"Get that over there! No, not there. Over into the northwest tunnel I ment."
Diamond adressed one of her Drones. As soon as Cadence had given her permission to do so, she had began to build her own hive, beneath the Chrystal castle. Her Drones were not yet all named, since she had to breed them fast, with barely being ablte to give them some genetic memory, but she had changed them. She, like any queen, had the ability to change her underlings to her needs. Her mother had chosen to make her drones as deadly as possible, but Diamond had bred hers to be able to live alongside ponies. Their bodyfluids would no longer change or poison ponies. She would be the only one to still have that trait.
"So I take it the costruction is going well?"
She heard Cadences voice from behind, and turned to face her. The princess had almost completly turned now, and needed her... asisstance from time to time to stop her symptoms of withdrawl.
"Yeah, it works out pretty well. I also have to thank you and your subjects for your help. Without them I don't think we would be this far along by now."
"But how is it even possible that you can breed drones... You were the only Changeling I brought here."
"Well, don't tell me you thought I was a virgin. I actually had many lovers in my mothers hive. Also, as a queen I could store their seed, and use it here."
"Oh... ehm... but... how is it that they are already big enough to work? I mean... It's been only three days since I gave you permission."
"This is quite easy. The average drone takes only twentyfour hours to reach a fully grown state. What takes another day, is for them to learn how to control their bodies and urges. After that, they are just like any other adult pony. They have all the knowledge they need, through genetic memory. It's quite the usefull stuff to have. Passing on memories that way I mean. Saves the need for schools."
"So... is this as you imagined?"
"Not yet. I have not been able to come up with many names. Maybe I will start naming them with Ponynames, or let them choose for themself. I want to run my hive differently from my mother anyway."
"But..... Tell me, why do they look so different? Your drones are silver, while the Changelings I know are all black."
"That is the result of my alterations in their genome. Genetics is a subject that we Changelings have quite the knowledge of, since every Queen has the ability to alter her drones. These drones are weaker then the ones in my mothers hive, but that also means they don't need to feed as much. I did this, in consideration of our bargain."
"I appreciate it, and you can count on me to keep my end of it. But if your hive grows too much, I don't know if I can provide enough love for all of you."
"Oh don't you worry about this Cadence. You actually won't have to do so much. My Changelings are now no longer poisonous to Ponies. Also due to that gene having been removed, there will be no change like yours if any of them has intercourse with one of your ponies. As a result, if you would allow it ofcourse, a few of my drones have already spoken their wish to start a buisness in your realm."
"A buisness? What kind of buisness?"
"Our powers to change can not only be used to decieve you know. My drones aren't exclusivly male either, like in my mothers hive. Those females are unable to breed, but they have the wish to start a ... well to sell certain services."
"You mean your drones are actually asking me for permission to sell their bodies to my ponies????"
"Well.... If you want to put it that way... yes."
"Well.... if you promise me that my ponies will be safe, I guess there is no harm in allowing it."
"Thank you Cadence. I am sure they will be gratefull. Also your ponies will have the possibility to sleep with whoever they want. I guess their buisness will get quite popular."
Cadence began to giggle.
"No kidding. But I must ask you to put an age limit on that service. I don't want the foals to use it."
"Noted and agreed. Well then, but that surely wasn't your reason to come down here, was it Cadence?"
"We know each other for such little time, and yet you know me almost too well already."
Diamond sighed, and kissed Cadence passsionatly, exchanging as much salvia with her as possible.
"Better?"
Cadences eyes were unfocused for a moment, but she recovered quickly.
"Much better. Thank you for you trouble."
It was Diamonds turn to giggle.
"No need to thank me. Every time we do this, I get a little love from you, and I still hope you will come around and give a little... more action a try."
Cadence gave Diamond a fake pout.
"As if. I think I have had enough intercourse with Changelings for a lifetime."
"Your choice, but you don't know what your missing. A queen is different from a drone."
The two friends hugged laughing. This was a joke between them, since Cadence had no memory of having sex with Changelings. Diamond had removed them afterall. The two walked down several tunnels, with Diamond giving orders to her drones now and then. So far she had bred about two hundred drones, and more eggs were getting ready inside of her. Not bigger then a chickens egg, she could lay about a hundred eggs a time. But, after this war was over, she would stop breeding, and only keep her hive at a certain number. That had several reasons. One of them was that she feared to become more and more like her mother, were she to breed to many underlings at once. The other was that she was not intending to make it look like she was preparing an invasion of her own. Diamond truly considered Cadence a friend, even so she did not know the princess for verry long, she just couldn't help it.
Freka'da worked on a tunnel while she watched her queen talk with the pony princess. She felt warm inside, while she absorbed some of the love radiating from the princess. It was ok to do so, and it was enough to satisfy her hunger for a day or more. She didn't know, since she as only three days old after all. But so far, this was only the second time she had taken a little love from her, and she wouldn't have had to. She had just done so, because it was so tasty. In fact, after feeding a little after she had hatched, she was not hungry at all. Freka'da was wondering just how long she would be able to go without feeding....
