Where the sun doesn't shine.

Chapter 8: Where the skies rain fire.

Again on his balcony, the Terran contemplated the situation: Twilight Sparkle told him that the last of the corrupted Mane 6, Rainbow Dash, was located in Cloudsdale, a flying city only accessible to Pegasi, which meant his forces would be limited greatly. Taking this mission, be it victory or defeat, meant that Equestria would declare war. The Terran Empire had never been to war before, and it has been in existence for decades at most, yet Equestria has been created more than millennia ago. He had no choice in the matter; avoiding war meant that Discord's influence would spread throughout the world since he could not be stopped without Rainbow Dash. War was coming.

Outside, the rain turned to storm, the corruption was spreading and the Terran knew it. He had little time to prepare now.

"Atticus, how goes the fortifications?"

"Halfway done, at this pace it would need another week or two."

"And the Pegasi companies?"

"Organization will be finished tomorrow."

"Send Fluttershy to the cartographers and ask them to create a map of Cloudsdale, it'll prove vital for this operation."

"As you wish."

Atticus left in search of Fluttershy while the Terran still stared at the city below.

A day passed as the storm outside intensified, it hasn't stopped raining in months. The Terran stood above the main gates staring at the horizon, drenched in the rain. The Pegasi companies started organizing outside, armed with bows, swords and shields instead of lances. Atticus arrived to where the Terran stood.

"So this is the day. The day when we storm the heavenly city of Cloudsdale. No matter the outcome of this mission, we'll be fighting something far bigger after this; once Rainbow Dash is rescued, the Mane 6 will be completed and we’ll be able to stand a chance against Discord."

"What about the corrupted Princess Celestia?"

"May the Great Ones help us all."

The Pegasi companies had finished forming outside the gates while the Terran got down from the gates. Twilight Sparkle and the rest waited outside too.

Fluttershy handed the Terran the map created with the help of the cartographers.

"This will get ruined in the storm… Twilight, is there something you can do?"

"I sure can!" She said as she casted a spell on the paper, once done the water could run through the paper without ruining it.

"Thanks. Now, can you cast a spell to let me walk over clouds?"

"I can, but it will take time for me to cast it on us all."

"…None of you are coming with me to Cloudsdale."

"Wait, what? It's our friend we're going to rescue!"

"When we went for Rarity, a force of a hundred thousand waited for us. And even then, we had 15,000 ponies with us. We are only able to field a couple thousands up there at most; there aren't many Pegasi in the Imperial Army, after all. Fear not, you'll wait below Cloudsdale."

"I…Understand…."

"Units, march!"

Five days passed, the storm became even worse than before, the days looked like dusk and the nights were pitch black, except for the lightning which allowed everypony to see normally for a split second, just like the Terran's last day on Terra. After arriving, they looked above them to see the city of Cloudsdale; its rainbows were grey, and its clouds black, it even looked like it had its own small storm.

"This...isn't the Cloudsdale I remember..." Said Fluttershy in a worried voice.

"This is it, there is no turning back. Even if we back off now Celestia will declare war." The Terran talked as he walked towards the captain and got on top of him. "Our objective is Cloudsdale; we must capture it and secure it, once secure Twilight will be transported above to cast the memory spell on Rainbow Dash. Take it to the skies, brothers!"

Every single Pegasi on the ground took flight in unison, making the mane 6 trip backwards and stare in awe as almost 2 thousand Pegasi flew to Cloudsdale.

As they reached the same height as the city, they saw how it was filled with dark-coloured Pegasi. Before they could react they took flight and built speed towards the Imperial forces.

"They are charging at us! Scatter! 5th and 6th companies, clear the landing zone!"

An aerial dogfight started up above, thousands of Pegasi from both sides flew around each other in the storm, 5th and 6th companies charged forward to the landing zone clearing part of it while pushing the rest back.

"The landing zones are clear! 3rd, 4th and 7th companies, take the high ground! The rest, push through the main entrance!"

The waves of dark ponies were unending, but everyone pushed forward with all their strength, failure was not an option. The forces reached a small elevation which led from the entrance to the main city where the 3rd company joined forces with them. The battle was progressing well for the Empire.

"13th and 14th companies, take the stadium! Everypony else, to the gates!"

The 2 companies flew away to the stadium that wasn't connected directly to Cloudsdale. The rest pushed through the gates only to be greeted by a force which put those from before to shame, the fighting intensified and so did the storm, lightning could fall anywhere. The yelling of every soldier echoed through the cloud city, it was nightmarish.

"Sir, Rainbow Dash has been spotted in the stadium!"

"Take me there at once!" Said the Terran as he got on top of the soldier, who flew to the stadium with him.

Upon arriving, he saw everypony taking cover behind the parapets while firing back at their attackers. He ran next to a captain, and took three arrows to the head before finally reaching cover.

"Report!"

"We are pinned down by their ar--...I guess you know by now!"

"I sure do!" He said as he took an arrow out of his skull.

"We've spotted Rainbow Dash for a split second, her current location is unknown but she is in this area!"

The Terran took a quick look over the parapet, and not a second later five more arrows were lodged in his skull. He took the arrows out before deciding to take out his rifle and join the skirmish. An hour of shooting everything that moves at the other side of the stadium with arrows and bullets passed before they realized they gained nothing at this pace.

"Everypony, take and secure the floor upstairs and block the staircases! Captain, send your lieutenant for reinforcements!"

"Yes sir!"

Everypony rushed up the stairs and blocked them with everything they could find, it would keep the enemy busy for a moment while reinforcements arrived. Except the reinforcements never arrived, instead, the lieutenant returned with a pale face.

"What happened? Where are the reinforcements?!"

"There are no reinforcements! Our forces lost the city and were pushed back to the gates! They won't hold them off any longer!"

Only the sounds of arrows flying and the furniture blocking the stairs being destroyed could be heard. The Terran cleaned the sweat of his mouth and with a determined voice said:

"Lieutenant, tell the forces to retreat. 13th and 14th companies, hear me! We came to secure the city for Twilight to come and cure Rainbow Dash, well plans changed! Our priority is getting Rainbow Dash out of here, corruption or not!"

"For the Emperor!!" Yelled everyone.

"They got through the stairs!!" Desperately screamed a soldier.

"BRACE FOR IMPACT!!"

Everyone clashed their shields together as they absorbed the charge that came from below. The situation was hopeless; they were going to be defeated sooner or later. The Terran looked around to find anything to help hold them off any way they could, but found nothing. Instead, he narrowed his eyes as he saw in the sky a grey dot which grew bigger and bigger at an alarming rate. It was Rainbow Dash, who held a chair and charged towards the Terran.

"HOW DARE YOU INVADE MY HOME!!?”

"OH GOD NOT ANOTHER CHA--AEUGH!!"

The Terran fell backwards while Rainbow Dash regained her balanced and charged towards him again, but this time the Terran was ready and managed to fight back the beating he was receiving.

"Everypony, retreat!" Screamed the Terran as he struggled with the grey Pegasus.

"But sir--"

"I SAID RETREAT!!"

Every single Pegasi in the stadium flew down below, leaving the lone Terran to fight Rainbow Dash.

"Hah, now you're alone!" Taunted Rainbow Dash.

"SEE IF I CARE!"

The Terran charged forward pushing Rainbow Dash and himself over the parapet, falling down below. They both fell at a considerable speed towards their imminent doom.

"Let me go! We'll both die!"

"A fitting end for our lives… isn't it, Rainbow Crash?!"

The Terran's taunt worked, she flapped her wings with anger and managed to fly off and lessen the impact onto the ground.

"Who are you calling Rainbow Crash?!" She said as she started fighting the Terran once again.

This time the Terran had the help of his soldiers while fighting her, she was restrained without any chance of escape.

"Quick, Twilight!"

"Yes!" She said as she ran towards Rainbow Dash and casted the spell.

Rainbow Dash's mane regained all her colours while being knocked out, and after a few seconds she woke up.

"Wha...where am I? What happened?"

"There is no time, let's get out before those things in Cloudsdale realize they can chase us! Or even worse, Celestia's army prepares an ambush!"

"Celestia's army ambushing us?! What are you talking about?!" Questioned Rainbow Dash, oblivious of everything that happened after her corruption.

"Celestia has been corrupted and said that if I sent an army to Equestria again she'd declare war on us, and this is the army I commanded to rescue you! I'll explain everything on the way, LETS GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!"

The Mane 6 were united once again, thanks to the efforts of the Terran and his Empire. They all returned to Stallinox and the six celebrated their return in their home. The Terran patiently waited in his throne for the declaration of war Celestia would send, while drinking a glass of wine. Spike, who was next to him, suddenly barfed said letter and gave it to the Terran. Upon reading it, he spat his wine all over the floor; he then stared at the letter with a pale face.

"Sir, what happened?!" Said Atticus as he ran towards him.

"It's worse than I anticipated...FAR worse...I thought only Equestria would declare war...but Celestia managed to form a coalition of SIX DIFFERENT STATES against us...not only that, Celestia's corruption is ridiculously obvious, that would mean Discord's influence had spread enough to engulf another five states..." He said before handing the letter to Atticus.

"This letter mentioned several states...But not every known state is inside this coalition. We could form our own coalition to stand a chance against them."

"...and Discord's chaos would be the perfect motivation…"

"This is getting interesting..." Echoed a voice through the castle. It wasn't just a voice; it was the voice which guided the Terran to the fountain of Immortality. "It's a real shame I forgot the popcorn."

"You're the voice from back then..."

"Indeed I am, Terran. And I'll hold no more secrets now since you're pretty good by yourself."

For a split second, a light blinded Atticus, Spike, and the Terran. Before them was something out of myths, a Draconequus.

"Discord!" Exclaimed Spike.

"Wait, this guy is Discord?! The one who turned Equestria into a surrealistic painting without meaning whatsoever?!"

"The one and only, and I see you've made quite the spectacle while I was gone."

"Woah woah woah, back up, aren't you supposed to create chaos instead of...help removing it?"

"Why, that's a very astute observation...Why do you ask?"

"Well, you gave me immortality AND I'm helping the mane 6..."

"And...?"

"...And I just united the mane 6..."

"I repeat: And?"

"JUST WHY DID YOU GIVE ME IMMORTALITY IF IM AGAINST YOU?!"

"I expected you to be less...dumb. After all, you united an Empire and, as you said, united the Mane 6." Discord cleared his throat. "This is where it gets interesting, my dear dumb friend. You've said my influence has covered five other states, but the truth is it didn't even leave Equestria! Your immortality is working against you; Celestia saw the chance and used it. Let me elaborate: One day a strange creature never seen nor heard of before, not even in legends, appears in this world and takes over a city. It cannot be killed nor harmed permanently. It unites Cabalderio into one of this world's most powerful Empires; and after that, 'kidnaps' five of the six ponies under Celestia's custody. She tried to make you stop, after all you've started a battle in her lands too...But you didn't listen. Instead, you invaded the city of Cloudsdale and 'kidnapped' the last pony under her care...Now, she wants to rescue them and put an end to you, but she can't alone, so she formed a coalition of states against you...Oh boy, this will be so much fun!"

After laughing loudly, a bright light blinded the three present again. Once they recovered, Discord was nowhere to be found.