Chapter Four

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep...Beep...

‘What’s that sound?’

Beep... Beep... Beep...

‘Is that a heartbeat monitor?’

Suddenly memories from earlier came rushing back and Twilight bolted upwards on the bed, but then immediately fell back down as her body protested the rapid movement. After the wave of pain had passed she opened her eyes and discovered her left eye was covered in bandages. She looked around the room, taking notice of the night sky through the window and the street lights of Canterlot shining dimly through her window from below. On the side of her bed was a small table with a few get well cards and a small, dimly lit lamp taking up residence. Looking around the small room she took note that she appeared to be alone.
T

‘That explosion must have did this to me, but where is everypony else?’ Twilight thought as she looked through the dark room once more. There were chairs against the wall in front of her with the a door she assumed led into the hall. There was another door to a small cubicle on her left that she assumed was a bathroom. As she looked to the right towards the window she saw a small bump in the covers just beside her right fore hoof. She lifted the covers to reveal the sleeping form of Spike. A smile crept onto her face as she watched him sleep ‘Oh Spike.’

With the smallest of cracks the door in front of her began to open and two arguing, familiar voices came through, “Sister it’s been a full week and nopony has woken up yet. You must stop these hourly visits and focus on finding the ones responsible for hurting them and you.”

“It’s my fault she’s in here Luna, it’s my fault all of them are in here.”

Twilight’s heart monitor began beeping a bit faster ‘What happened to everypony?’

“If we were to assign blame I would be at fault for not staying until you arrived, but we both thought we had more time. Please sister, we must focus on getting the troops prepared for the worst.”

Feeling that her eavesdropping had gone on long enough Twilight used her magic to open the door the rest of the way. This caught the attention of the two arguing princesses.

“Twilight, you’re awake!” Luna exclaimed as the two entered the room.

“Twilight, you don’t know how happy I am to see you awake and well.” Celestia said as she nuzzled Twilight and she returned the affection.

“Thank you Princess, but what happened to everypony after that explosion?” Twilight's concern was shown in her voice and in her eyes. Their happy expressions dropped into one of sadness as neither of them seemed to want to answer the question, “Princess, what happened to my friends and everypony else?”

Celestia let out a deep sigh, “Twilight, firstly I want you to know that everypony is alright, but they’re all in a magical induced coma.” in answer to what she had just been told, Twilight’s eyes grew wide and her heartbeat monitor began to beep faster, “But, with you waking now I have no doubt that everypony will be waking up soon.”

The heartbeat monitor began to slow to a normal speed, “But how did this happen, the last thing I remember was the portal turning into a white ball and slamming into the ground.”

“We believe that when the portal collapsed in on itself, all the magical energy it had been collecting was forcibly shot outwards. The resulting burst of energy and explosion weakened the magical and physical support areas in the throne room’s architecture causing it to collapse.” Luna stated as Twilight wrapped her head around the new information.

“The throne room collapsed!” Twilight shouted in shock causing a nearby baby dragon to turn over in his sleep.

“Twilight please, try and keep your voice down. There are other patients in the room next to this one.” The dark blue alicorn said with a hushed tone.

“If the throne room collapsed how did everypony get out okay?”
H

“We arrived just as the ceiling was caving in and we were able to hold the building up as a squad of royal guards pulled everypony out.” Luna answered.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find the doctor to make sure everything is in good order.” Celestia said as she walked out of the room.

“Princess Luna-”

“Please Twilight, we’re friends, Luna is fine.”

“I’m sorry for listening in earlier, but what did you mean when you said the creatures hurt us and Celestia.”

Luna’s expression became one of sadness and she let out a sorrowful sigh, “It was three days after the throne room incident that Celestia found the creatures in the Everfree Forest. With the forests wide expanse, thick foliage, and network of underground cave systems it would of taken every guard in Equestria to do an effective search, so Celestia and I searched to our best efforts while the guards focused on all the settlements they could have reached.” It was at that moment Celestia returned with a pale blue unicorn, levitating a clipboard, that Twilight assumed was the doctor. The doctor smiled and began examining the medical instruments around Twilight’s bed but stayed quiet.

“But how did you know what they looked like if everypony in the room was put into a coma?” Twilight asked as the doctor began using his magic to write a few things down on the clipboard.

“Excuse me, Princesses, Twilight appears to be perfectly fine now. Thanks to modern medical magic she will have no signs of muscle degradation, but just to be on the safe side we’ll monitor her over night and see what tomorrow has to bring. If her condition stays the same she’ll be released sometime in the afternoon.” the doctor stated rather hastily.

Twilight raised an eyebrow at the doctor 'That was quick.' "Uh, what about my eye?"

"Ah, yes, those bandages can come off in the morning and your sight shouldn't be affected."

“Thank you for the good news doctor.” Celestia said as a smile formed on her face, “Now could you do me a favor and go check on the other coma patients. Come get us if any more have awoken.”

“Of course your Highness.” The doctor said, bowing down and leaving the room. The door then shut with a golden aura around it and locked. Twilight looked to the princesses with a puzzled look on her face.

“To answer your question Twilight, when the explosion happened the three creatures were thrown through the stained glass windows and into the side of the mountain. When they hit the ground they left three distinct impressions. This gave us our base image and we were able to make assumptions from there.” Luna answered.

Celestia let her smile drop as her expression grew serious, “Twilight, what I’m about to say could cause mass panic if it were to get out of this room. You will be allowed to tell the elements about this and Spike if you think he can keep the secret, but not a single other pony. Is that understood?”

“Yes Princess, but before you start, could you tell me just how long I have been in here?”

“It would be one week tomorrow.” Luna answered. This sent Twilight through a loop as the incident seemed like it had taken place just a few days ago.

‘Has Spike been here that entire time?’ Twilight thought as Celestia continued.

“The day the creatures attacked and comatosed twenty guards, the new captain of the Royal Day Guard, Prince Armor, and the Elements of Harmony to say Luna and I were mad was an understatement.” Celestia began as Twilight nodded slowly. There were a few questions she still wished to ask her mentor, but Twilight knew this story was more important. With a deep breath Celestia began...
E
**3 days earlier**

After finishing the last of the cases for the afternoon portion of the Day Courts, Celestia began her search for the creatures in the Everfree forest. She would use her magic to do a deep scan of the forest to penetrate not just the thick foliage, but the ground. This allowed here to search for them in the caves under the forest as well. She repeated the process around six times, getting the majority of the forest while she did so. After that she would land and begin searching on hoof, trying her best to find anything that could be theirs. Today though, Celestia had lucked out and found two of them in a small clearing just half a mile into the forest from Ponyville.

Closing her eyes, Celestia telepathically contacted Luna, ‘Luna, Luna wake up.’

‘What is it? I just got to sleep a few hours ago.’ Luna said, her telepathic voice sounding tired and dreary.

‘I’ve found them in the Everfree. Get here as soon as you can.' even without physically seeing it Celestia knew Luna well enough to know she probably shot out of bed and into the sky through her balcony doorway.

‘I’ll be there in a few minutes, make sure they stay there.’ Celestia felt the venom of Luna’s voice even through the telepathic link.

Celestia returned her attention to the clearing, the sight perplexed her mind. The two creatures were still there, but a manticore began to creep into the clearing. She watched as the two creatures lined them selves up in a straight line with the beast. One of the creatures began backing up, but kept the in line with the other and the manticore. Without warning the beast charged the closest creature and pounced. Without moving from it’s spot, the creature grabbed the manticore and used it’s momentum to throw it at his ally. The other creature ran towards it and tackled the beast while it was still in the air. Even with her distance Celestia heard its spine and numerous other bones break.

The two landed in a heap next to the first creature and the second got up and seemed to act as if this was an everyday thing. It would of taken her best Day Guard earth pony squad to accomplish what she had just seen, and it still would of taken them longer. Then there was the sad fact it was only two of them and there had been three different impressions in the mountain by the castle.

As Celestia began her descent towards them both of them looked up directly at her. They then retrieved large pieces of metal from their backs that she assumed were weapons, but they were like none she had ever seen. As she landed Celestia stared directly at the first creatures face, now seeing that it wore armor and not an exoskeleton like she had thought.

After a few seconds of analyzing the two in front of her, Celestia did a quick scan of the surrounding clearing for the third. Upon finding nothing she returned her full attention to the two in front of her, “Judging by the shape of your bodies and the impressions left in the mountain outside the throne room, I assume you were the ones that attacked a few days ago. Am I wrong?”

There was a small moment of hesitation before the closest to her took a step forward and spoke, “We never attacked anyone.”

“There are twenty-eight magical comatose victims, a collapsed throne room, and three distinct impressions made in the mountain side that puts you both at the scene.”
H

“What happened at that castle was just a mistake, we never intended-”

Celestia interrupted him, “It does not matter what you intended. What matters is that you have put a Prince, the Royal Guard Captain, and the Elements of Harmony all in the hospital. If you truly think you are innocent then you will be found so in the Royal Courts.”

There was a few moments of hesitation before the creature answered, “What authority do you have to arrest us?”

Celestia was slightly taken back by this, ‘How could they not know who I am?’ small thoughts of doubt began to creep into her mind, but Celestia pushed them back and answered, “I am Princess Celestia, Co-ruler of Equestria.”

**Meanwhile on the other side of this conversation**

“No way am I about to get arrested by a pony princess.” Josh said through the short range comm.

“We just need to stay calm and try to resolve this without resorting to violence... any ideas on how to do that?” Leon answered as he stared into the piercing eyes of the Princess.

“How the hell should I know what to do. Were dealing with a flying horse, with a horn. Oh and who's also one of the rulers of this place.”

Leon looked into the trees surrounding them just as an idea struck him, “Okay then Princess since your a co-ruler, who is the other?”

“Why are you playing twenty questions with her?” Josh asked.

As the Princess started talking, Leon explained, “To keep her talking. Listen we’re going to make a run for the tree line and then we’ll confuse her using your holograms and escape.”

“Sounds-” Josh was interrupted as the princesses horn became enshrouded with a golden aura.

The ground itself shook as the earth began to move and replace itself. A rock wall began to come up out of the ground all around the clearing making the trees shake and the spartans to get slightly off balance. When the earthquake stopped a wall of solid rock about ten feet high surrounded them, blocking off any escape plans they had been thinking of.

“It’s impolite to think of escape plans when somepony is taking. Now will you come peacefully or will I have to render you unconscious and carry you back.”

**Mountain side, 2 miles away**

Alfred had been watching the whole meeting take place between Leon and the flying unicorn, but was now looking at the new arrival that was coming in from the east of the meeting place. It was another flying unicorn, but with a darker color scheme than the other. Had he been his normal black color that his whole team wore then the new arrival could of seen him, but he had changed it to match the color of the rocks around him with his armor module.

Alfred watched as the new arrival began its descent into the clearing. He zoomed in with his sniper rifle and took aim at the white pony that had originally disrupted his teams hunting session. He aimed for the horn, Leon having given orders not to use lethal force unless it is absolutely necessary. As the darker one landed both of the ponies horns began to glow and Alfred saw Leon and Josh raise their rifles at the two ponies.
E

Alfred would have to chose his timing carefully, with a distance like this his suit could only calculate drop and adjust the sniper scope accordingly. It would be up to him to adjust for the other factors like wind speed and bullet travel. Moving his left hand out he grabbed the sniper magazine that had laying in the sun next to him, popped it into the rifle, and pushed the bolt forward locking the anti-material bullet in the chamber.

Three things could happen when he pulls the trigger. First, the shot could hit the target, creating enough of a distraction for Leon and Josh to escape. Second the bullet could miss and alert the ponies to his presence and put Leon and Josh in jeopardy as they would have two hostiles to deal with. Third, the bullet could hit the pony in the head and kill it instantly, invoking rage from its comrade and the spartans will be forced to end it as well. It all boiled down to this single bullet.

**About 20 seconds earlier in the clearing**

“Princess, if I thought we would get a just trial I would agree to lay down my weapon and come with you, but I’m not about to make that decision for my team.” Leon replied as another contact came in on his motion tracker and into view.

Leon and Josh watched as the new arrival landed next to the other and spoke, “If thou refuses to come then thou’s fate is thusly sealed.” Both of their horns became enshrouded in a ghostly aura, and the two spartans raised their weapons at them.

“So you were buying time for your reinforcements to come.” Leon let out a soft chuckle, “Looks like we have similar tactics.” Leon stated, but before either princess could question his meaning there was a loud crack and Celestia’s horn came flying off.

Before the princess even hit the ground Leon and Josh had bolted to the wall behind the two princesses. The darker princess saw their movement and her horn became enshrouded in an a dark blue aura and suddenly vanished with Celestia. Not stopping their momentum, the two spartans charged straight through the wall.

From the far side of the clearing Luna looked stunned as the spartans chose to run and not attack her. Not wanting to give them a chance to return, she quickly scan the clearing to find Celestia’s broken horn. It was only a few seconds later that Luna found the broken piece and teleported both of them back to the castle.
R
****

Twilight’s jaw had effectively dropped as she stared at Celestia’s horn, “But... it looks just fine to me.”

“I was able to reattach it once we were back. Thankfully it had broken clean and there was no fragmentation.” Luna answered.

“How-how were they able to do that? Unicorn horns are one the strongest parts of their bodies, the history books say you were able to parry swords with your horn in the old ages.”

“Yes, we know, and for them to of broken mine so easily means they could possibly be the most dangerous beings we have ever encountered.” Celestia said, “There was something they said though that I would like you to clear up for me Twilight.”

“Anything princess.”

“Twilight, we must ask you, what happened in the throne room?” Luna asked.

The question caught her off guard as the whole incident seemed to have happened so long ago. Nodding once Twilight took a deep breath and began to recite what had led up to her being in the hospital.

****

She and her brother had been talking when one of the guards had called out, “I think something’s on the other side of the portal!”

Immediately the captain barked an order that Twilight didn't catch and the guards, Shining included, all galloped to the other side of the portal. Twilight and the others were left standing there confused as to what was happening. Using cation the group slowly crept up to one of the pillars to try and get a good view of what was going on.
O

Twilight and the rest of the elements were hiding behind the closest pillar on the right side of the new arrivals. The guards had surrounded the first two creatures to come through the portal, eliminating any means of escape. It looked as if a fight was going to start out, but then a third creature came through the portal. It seemed to look around and scope out the situation, before looking towards one of the first two. It was only a short time after that they lowered the pieces of metal they had been pointing at the guards.

'No communication? Possibly psychic.' Twilight thought as she watched from her obstructed view point.

Suddenly a hoof stomp rang out and the guards in front of the creatures broke apart into two teams that joined the guards at the sides, completely blocking all of the girls view. Rainbow Dash being the exception as she was hovering above them. Then sompony spoke up, “In the name of the royal sisters you all are to cease all acts of aggression towards the nation of Equestria immediately.” The silence afterwards was almost deafening as both parties were at a standstill once again.

KZZZTSH

All the elements jumped with fear as an abnormally large lightning bolt struck the pink column a few meters away, with the exception of Fluttershy who zipped behind Rarity and Applejack for protection. The six mares watched as all the guards and the three creatures shifted their gaze to the portal. All of the guards attention were focused on the portal more than the new arrivals.

Suddenly one of the creatures made a mad dash towards the portal, only to be shot back by the magical force surrounding it. The creature soared over the captain of the guard and landed in front of the two thrones. It brought it’s head back up and watched the portal for a small time. Twilight watched as the other bipeds made no move to get their friend, but instead one just observed the ponies. Almost as if what it was looking at was too gruesome a site to watch. Then the last had been rooted to its spot, not looking away from the portal for even a fraction of a second. Soon the first biped rejoined the other two.

The girls' view of the portal was poor and they couldn’t see what was happening, but that soon changed as Shining Armor’s voice rang out, “Lines of two behind the creatures!”
A

Twilight and the elements finally got a clear view of the portal as the guards followed the orders, but, due to the angle, they still couldn’t see what was happening on the other side of it. What they did see however was an unobstructed view of the trio of armored, bipedal creatures that were easily twice the size of anypony present. The armor each wore was different, but Twilight couldn't remember the exact looks of them.

Pinky let out a sharp gasp from the back of the group, but everypony present ignored it and stared at the perplexing sight that was the creatures in front of them. “Just what are they all staring at?” Rainbow Dash mumbled as she began to hover passed Twilight towards the next pillar.

Applejack quickly grabbed her tail and yanked her back down to the ground, “Hold up there RD, I don’t think it's such a good idea to be splitin up.”

“Applejack is right, what if we have to use the Elements of Harmony to stop whatever has everypony so-” Twilight was cut off as a bright white light filled the room. Turning they all saw the portal collapse in on itself and form a small white ball. Before Twilight could even begin to wonder what the ball was it slammed into the ground and exploded with terrifying force and everything went dark.

****

“So they weren’t attacking...” Celestia mumbled

“But they have attacked you now, so this wouldn’t change anything... right?” Twilight questioned.

Celestia shook her head, “If they were not attacking then what was their purpose of coming here? So many things are now left unanswered.”

There was a knock on the door not a moment later, “Princesses, I have two ponies here who wish to see the patient.” the doctor said from the other side of the door.

“Enter.” Luna answered. Slowly the door opened to reveal two ponies Twilight hadn’t seen in quite a while.

“Mom, Dad!” Quickly the two ponies with the doctor rushed passed the princesses to Twilight’s side.
RR

'I think we should leave them to catch up.' Luna said over the telepathic link. Celestia gave a small nod and they snuck out the door as Twilight's mother cried tears of joy into her daughter’s coat.

As the two princesses left Twilight with her parents they teleported to Luna’s room to have privacy as they discussed something either as dangerous or more than the three creatures they hunted, politics.

“Sister, while it is good news of Twilight's recovery we must not act like everything is going to be alright. Especially since the Gryphon Kingdom made it official today that General Black will be taking the kings place since the disappearance.” Luna started electing a sorrowful sigh from Celestia.

“I know Luna and I had hoped that the Minotaur Domain wouldn't of reacted to such a change so violently, but now they are about to go to war. Were we not hunting down these monsters we could be the third party to help put an end to the disputes around King Talon’s disappearance as well as his daughter's.”

“But sister, some form of foul play is obvious here. Their carriage was found burning in the middle of Red Thorn Bog and there were no bodies or a decent investigation.” Luna stated.

“I know, but stopping the war would of been first, but now it doesn’t matter as we have our own crisis to deal with.” Celestia began walking towards the balcony as she finished.

“It may not stay our problem for long.” Luna joined her sister on the balcony looking at the night life of Canterlot.

“You’re referring to the magical anomaly that happened earlier today? It was within the Gryphon Kingdoms borders and we can’t get involved with either of the warring nations unless it’s for negotiations of peace.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right... Do you know where the Deers allegiance lies, or the southern tribes?”

“The D-B Kingdom is staying neutral and will only step in if either side begins committing genocide of innocents. We will step in the moment we apprehend these accursed creatures and get answers.” Celestia answered, yawning as she finished.
I

“Tis late sister, go to bed and get some sleep before you have to raise the sun.”

Celestia nodded and smiled, “Good night Lulu.”

“Sweet dreams Celly.” Luna said sharing the same small smile as her sister before Celestia teleported away to her room.

With a happy sigh Luna returned to her room, wondering what book she should read. As she reached her book shelf three loud knocks were heard at the door, “Princess, the Night Courts are about to start.”

Luna looked at the door with an annoyed expression before letting out a defeated sigh, “I’ll be right there.”

****
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ h a s _ _ _ _ v e d.

Author's Note

Wow, did that take longer than I thought it would, but in my defense... yeah I got nothing. I'm no longer giving time frames for when the next chapter comes out because I'm never right.

Anyway I have a community question that I would like to ask the people who don't skip this note: What things can make you absolutely stop reading a fan fiction even if the rest was good?