The Two Sisters

It was bone bitingly cold in the mountains at night. Ivy and Xan were both huddled up against a small pathetic fire. They were shivering and hungry. Days of travel on foot, chased by griffons, and almost being seen by a dragon. This was torture.

"B-by daybreak," Ivy chattered, "W-we should b-e able to see our way to that t-town.."

"Gee," Xan replied, "I'm practically oozing with joy. Oh wait, that might just be my nose."

"Just one more night here," Ivy said, "Just one more, then we could sneak in to the town, and make our way to the Tyrants' city..."

"Whoop-de-doo..."

"From there, we can only hope to convince them to make peace," she continued, "Not the best odds, but that's all we've got. If I know my dad, he'll never let up."

They both lulled into an uncomfortable sleep, each leaning on each other. The fire kept going even though it was very small. It almost looked like it was fighting against the bitter cold.

The first rays of genuine sun shine sparkled down on the mountain side. Ivy woke up. She brushed frost from her hair and stood up to stretch. Xan was still asleep. She decided to leave him asleep and scout ahead. Ivy arrived at a cliff edge that looked across the landscape. She could see it. A small town. No doubt THEIR kind lived there. She hoped that they wouldn't be hostile.

"Morning..." Xan said, walking up to Ivy, tousle haired.

"Sleep well did you?" she asked smiling.

"Like a baby..." he mumbled, "So, is that the place we're going?"

"Yep,"she replied, "We'll sneak right through and none of them will know the better."

So, they started to trek down the sloping surface of the mountains, packs on their backs, and protection swinging on their hips. The trail to the town couldn't be more straight forward. It was just THERE. The atmosphere had changed radically. Instead of the rough and punishing terrain of the mountain side, the trail and it's surroundings were sunny, almost friendly like in a wonderful cartoon. Disgusting... As they got to the edge of the town, they could see it's inhabitants.

"Colorful things aren't they?" Xan whispered. They ducked behind a large bush.

"Pretty small, too," Ivy replied, "They look kind of cute."

"Yeah, not like in our books though, all angry looking." Xan noted.

"Ok," Ivy said, "Let's sneak over behind that pink building..."

"What, the one that looks like giant cake?"

Under cover of their cloaks, they ran behind the building. Luckily, no one saw them. Ivy and Xan peeked around the corner. They were perplexed by what they saw. There were ponies everywhere. To and fro, they bustled, male and female, in a society much like the Citadel's. There were citizens with jobs and families and shops all over.

"Are you sure we're in the right place?" Xan whispered, "They don't LOOK dangerous..."

"Shush," Ivy snapped. She looked back around the edge of the building. There was a sort of tension in the air. Everyone of the ponies looked worried and desperate to find some sort of solution. As the two hid behind the building, two female ponies, one a mint green unicorn and a cream colored earth pony by the looks of it, exited the shop they were hiding behind. Ivy and Xan caught some of their conversation.

"Do you really think the message was true?" the green unicorn asked, "Do you really think there IS going to be... war?"

"I don't know, Lyra," the earth pony replied, "The message was an official one issued by the Princess. I doubt it's anything but real."

"Bon Bon, how long do you think it's going to take for it to reach us?" Lyra asked.

"Only time can tell," she replied.

Ivy and Xan ducked behind another near by building, then to another, and another. Each time they moved however, it was becoming more and more densely populated. There were so many of them. Ponies looking out the windows, at shops, sitting at cafes, and even flying through the air. If they didn't find a good place to hide soon, they'd be seen.

"Quick!" Ivy whispered, "In here! The window's unlocked!"

The two of them climbed in to an empty building built into a massive tree. Just as Xan's foot fell into the window out of sight, a certain wall-eyed, blue-grey, pony looked over and had just missed it.

The treehouse was empty as far as Ivy could tell. Looking around, she realized it was a library. At least they were safe for now. She looked out the window carefully. Among the normal ponies were now armor clad ones patrolling and stationing themselves around the town. Despite their size, they looked very formidable.

"So what's the plan from here?" asked Xan.

"Well, there's not much to do but sneak out of here," Ivy replied, "We're smack dab in the middle of the town. We just have to-"

"HEY!"

Horror struck, Ivy and Xan looked up. They turned around and at the top of the stairs to the second floor was a purple juvenile dragon.

"What the- Who are YOU?!" it said, "Get outta here! Burglars!" He was yelling at the top of his voice.

Ivy and Xan waved their arms at him shushing, trying to quiet the irate dragon.

"Breaking into the library!" he continued, "I'm getting the authorities!" He headed for the door.

Several things happened at one. Xan hurtled over a table, landed stomach down on top of the small dragon, and clamped his mouth shut and held him tight. At that moment, voices could be heard from the other side of the door.

Ivy and Xan, still holding the struggling dragon, leapt up and ran into a nearby closet.

"Thanks, all of you, for coming here on such short notice," said a voice.

The library door opened with a tinkling of a bell.

"So is it true, Twilight? Is there going to be... war?"

"Definitely," she replied, "The Princess took this issue without hesitation. As far as we know, we can only prepare for what is to come."

"This is totally bogus!!" a brash voice yelled, "I mean, what did we even do to cause a war?!"

"I don't know, Rainbow Dash, but what ever it is, it's a long feud between the Princesses and another race," said Twilight.

"Then why bring it up now?" said a southern voice, "An' who is it against anyhow?"

"Again, I don't know," Twilight said, "I was told to leave before I could get any information."

Ivy and Xan held their breaths in the closet. So, news of the coming war HAD reached them already... Xan's arms were becoming sore from gripping on to the struggling dragon. He trashed about in his captor's arms and jerked against his hand that was covering his mouth. Ivy had to help him hold down the dragon. For a baby, it was TREMENDOUSLY strong.

"How long do you think we have until the war hits us?"

"We can't tell for sure," responded Twilight, "All we can do is-"

"AAAAUUUUUGGH!"

**********

The six ponies nearly jumped out of their skins. They whipped around to the source of the scream. What they saw left them in confusion, disbelief, and shock.

A tall... ape-like creature burst out from a closet. It was wearing some sort of cloak and dancing around with Spike attached to his arm. Spike had evidently bitten down on his arm very hard, seeing that there was a small trickle of blood dribbling down it. Another one of the creatures flopped out of the closet. This one was a female.

As Twilight gazed upon the two strange creatures, one trying to pull Spike off of the other by the tail, she realized that she'd never seen these creatures. But then it hit her like a dead weight. The tall stature, bipedal, articulating fingers...

"Spike!" she yelled, "Let go of him! What are you doing?!"

On command, Spike released the ape from his teeth and fell to the floor. He spat out a bit of blood. It wasn't his.

"Twilight!" he shouted getting up. He ran behind her and glared at the two strange new creatures. "Those... THINGS broke into the library! And then they grabbed and tried to KILL ME! That's when I heard you coming and I bit-"

"I was NOT trying to kill you!" the male of the two creatures exclaimed. He was holding his arm trying to stem the bleeding. "Hot headed little newt..."

"Hot headed WHAT?!" Spike yelled, advancing towards the male, "Why I oughta..."

The ape reached for something on his back. An arrow.

"Look out!" Applejack bellowed. She sprinted towards the male and bucked him in the stomach. His wind knocked out from the tummy tuck, he slumped on to the floor. The female gave a yell in surprise.

"Applejack!" Twilight yelled, "What was that for!"

"He was armed!" she retorted.

"Can we stop beating up my friend?!" the female ape yelled. She looked around. The six ponies surrounded her. She could fight, but six on one weren't good odds and she knew that unicorns could use magic. Plus her companion was still on the floor.

"Before anything else happens," Twilight said glancing at Applejack, "I think we need to set things straight. What are you?"

"My name's Ivy," the female said, "And I am a human." Although she was already taller than the ponies, Ivy stood up proudly. "We are a strong people, but few in number. We were almost struck down by the Tyrants almost a thousand years ago."

"Tyrants?" Rainbow Dash interjected, "She doesn't mean our princesses right?"

But no one answered her. Twilight was staring at the human, lost in her words about the princesses. Was this the unknown race that declared war? Were these the ones to bring war upon the 'sins' of her precious Princess?

"We're here..." the male on the floor coughed, "So we could warn you about the war..." He slowly got up, "I'm Xan, and Ivy and I travelled here to beg the Tyrants for peace."

"They're NOT tyrants!" Twilight yelled.

"Strong as we may be," Xan continued ignoring Twilight's outburst, "We are still a surviving race. We have no allies and have no special abilities and powers."

"He's right," Ivy said, "We are strong at heart and pride, but if we do go to war, many of your people and even more of ours will be lost. I know what magic can do. If we go to war, our kind will be wiped out."

"Wait," Rarity said, "I've never even HEARD or your race! And surviving? What happened in the past?"

"From what we know," Ivy replied, "Your rulers, many centuries ago, committed a great sin against our people. They bathed the earth in fire and cremated the age of human rule on this planet."

"You? Rule this world? Yeah right," Applejack said.

"Thats just it," Xan said, "Look at the world you live in now. Look at the tools and even that door over there."

The six mares looked to the closet door.

"See how it's made to look?" Xan said, "See how the handle is formed? Now look at yourselves. Do you think that was made to be compatible with your anatomy? Those were originally made with THESE in mind." He held up his hand and showed off his fingers.

"And look at this quill," Ivy said picking one off of a nearby table, "How are you supposed to use this, with your mouth and head tilted sideways?"

"Holy MOLEY!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie. "They're right! Look!" She raised her fingerless fore-hooves.

"The world you live in was adopted," Xan said, "Stolen."

Twlilight looked around at Xan and Ivy.

"Ivy, was it?" Ivy nodded, "So you two know about the war? Can you tell us what we're up against? How much time do we have?"

"All that we know," Ivy began, "Is that our forces have already mobilized. They may be here in a few days, or even tonight."

"But please," Xan said, "We need to talk with your Ty- er, Princess." Twilight cocked her eyebrow. "Do you know anyone who can lead us to her?"

"Well, I can," Twilight said rubbing the back of her neck, "I AM her personal protege and favorite student."

"Great! You can lead us RIGHT to her!" Ivy exclaimed, "When can we go? We need to see them at SOON as possible!"

"Hang on hang on," Applejack said as she took Twilight to the side, "Are you sure we can trust these things? Fer all we know, they can be spahs er even assassins!"

"Don't be silly, Applejack," Twilight whispered back, "They seen to know that they're at a disadvantage. Plus the male couldn't even handle Spike."

"Ah dunno, Twi..."

"Just trust me Applejack, I want to end this war before it starts."

***********

"Another town lays in ruins, your Highness..."

"Did reinforcements not make it there?"

"Nay, Princess. They are a strong race, call themselves 'humans'."

"How many have we lost?" Celestia asked her advisor.

"Almost a thousand dead on both sides," he replied, "And even more injured. There are even some earth ponies taken as prisoners of war. Other towns and cities are holding up, but we cannot guess on as to how much longer."

Hostages. Celestia sighed. The war was on it's way to Canterlot. The human race wouldn't survive the war. The ponies had allies, such as the dragons. However, Canterlot was a magical fortress with the best and mightiest forces in combat. If the war grew out of her control, she could always wipe them out again. This time however, she would make sure not to leave any living.

Her heart sank. Did she really have to drop to that level again? Her dreams and heart were already filled to the brim with guilt and sin from the last obliteration of this race. One side of her wanted to purge the world of such a primitive and savage race to protect her people, but the other wanted to make peace and and leave the past passed. But then Celestia thought of her daddy. Her heart gave a jerk and her eyes flashed red. No. This race was not fit to live in harmony. If she had to, Celestia would rain fire from the skies and damn them to what ever afterlife they deserved.

"Celestia," Luna said quietly. Celestia blinked and her eyes returned back to their normal shade of pink.

"Yes, my dear sister?" she replied. She had forgotten Luna was sitting right next to her on her own throne.

"What ever you're thinking of doing," Luna began, "Don't make the same mistake you did over a thousand years ago... I know I won't..."

"How can you even suggest-" Celestia started.

"Your eyes," Luna cut in, "I can see it in your eyes. Always. I can always see your spite, greed, and hatred in them when they go red.."

"How can you?" snapped Celestia.

"It feels good to brood in those emotions," Luna replied, "Nightmare Moon taught me that. Please, I beg of you sister, don't make the same mistake..."

Celestia looked down. Luna was right. If she gave into her hate like that again....

"Your Majesties,"

Both Luna and Celestia looked up to see one of the royal guards.

"Your student Twilight Sparkle and uh..."

"Yes?" Celestia snapped, "And what?"

"Uh... Er, some humans have..."

"Some WHATS?!" Celestia gasped.

"She and a pair of humans have requested an audience with you," the guard said quietly shrinking.

Celestia, throwing all royal demeanor aside, bolted off of her throne and sprinted out the doors, Luna right behind her. The two sisters arrived in the main hall where they saw chaos.

There was a circle of guards, each holding a sword or spear in it's mouth. In the middle of the circle were three individuals: Twilight Sparkle and two humans. Twilight was jumping around shouting.

"They're not the enemy! They come in peace! All they want is to see the Princesses!"

The two humans, one male and the other female, weren't exactly helping the situation either. The female had a curved dagger in hand and the male had a bow with an arrow drawn and ready.

"ENOUGH!" yelled Celestia at the top of her lungs.

At once, the guards dropped their weapons and stepped away. The two humans relaxed their own weapons and looked towards the Princess.

"What is the meaning of this?" Celestia barked, "How dare you bring these... CREATURES into my palace, let alone Canterlot!"

"Sister, please..." whispered Luna. Celestia looked to her. She gave a sigh.

"So," she said regaining composure, but still very coldly, "My most faithful student, why is it that these two come here?"

As Celestia gazed upon the two young humans, she had a rage of conflict in her heart. She felt sadness. Horrible guilt and pain for the humans. Celestia had committed the ultimate sin against them. But she also felt fury. These were the things that brought the end of what little she could call a family.

"Their names are Ivy and Xan. They come here to negotiate peace," Twilight said, "They know that their race will be wiped out in an all out war and they want you to try and negotiate peace with their own leader."

"That is not completely up to me," Celestia said, "I am completely willing to avoid a war, but many of our own numbers have been slaughtered and I don't think your leader would want any kind of peace."

"Please, your Highness..." Ivy began. Celestia looked at her, but immediately gasped in horror and stumbled back a few steps.

A thin, pale figure stood before her. It's eyes were missing and pouring with thick, dark blood. It's mouth was gaping, uttering words like 'murderer' and 'slaughter'.

Celestia gave a short scream of terror.

"No! NO!" she yelled stepping back.

"Princess?" Twilight said, shocked at what she was seeing. She and Ivy started to approach her, "What's wrong?!"

"Get back! STAY AWAY!!" Celestia screamed. Her student was walking side by side with the limping and bleeding figure.

Celestia's pupils were contracted in utter fear. This was like the nightmare. The bloody bodies were now here to torment her. Celestia's eyes darted around the main hall. She noticed none of the guards or her sister watching her in shock. She was looking for her daddy. If the monsters were here, so was he.

Celestia huddled up in a small pile on the floor. She was sobbing uncontrollably. Her nightmares were now her real world and no one could stop it. She covered her face in her fore-hooves and blanketed herself in her large wings, trembling.

"Make it stop..." she sobbed, "I don't want... Daddy, make it stop..."

"What's wrong with her?!" Xan asked.

"Oh no, Mama!" Twilight yelled and rushed towards her.

"Wait," Luna interjected, holding Twilight feet away from the trembling, whimpering Celestia.

"Sister? Celly?" she said in hardly a whisper, "It's fine. The beastie is gone."

"I don't want to see it..." Celestia said softly, "I'm so scared..."

Luna sat next to her sister and nuzzled her. Although her form was smaller than Celestia's, she held her in the right places, slowly but surely calming her down.

"Where... Where is Twilight?" Celestia asked quietly.

"I'm right here, mama.." Twilight said, still fearful of her Princess's condition.

Celestia lifted a wing ever so slightly and gestured Twilight towards her. Twilight approached slowly until she was right next to Celestia. She crawled under her wing, which Celestia had again closed.

Twilight lay against Celestia, soaking up her radiant body heat and motherly scent. Celestia's wings were like a warm tent around her, alive and protective.

"I'm sorry you had to see that..." she murmured.

"You don't have to be sorry for anything, mama," Twilight replied pressing against her neck.

"There's so much I haven't told you," Celestia said quietly, "And it kills me that this isn't the time to tell you. I've done terrible things. Unspeakable evils..." She started to cry again.

"P-please stop..." Twilight said, "I hate seeing you like this..."

"I can only hope that you don't hate me after I tell you the truth..."

*********

The main hall was quiet. Both Ivy and Xan were standing outside the closed doors that lead to the throne room. Celestia and Twilight had gone into the throne room first so that the Princess could regain her composure. Luna was left to watch the two humans along with a few more royal guards.

Xan was sitting on the floor, eyes locked with a female pony guard. She was clad in golden metal armor. Her eyes were cold and staring, staring back into Xan's. As they both continued to stare menacingly at each other, Xan's eyes began to dry out and water. He blinked. The guard gave a snort of satisfaction and victory. Damn it...

"So," Xan said looking at Luna. She didn't look back. "Has your older sister always been that REFINED around guests?"

"So," Luna said to Ivy, ignoring Xan's remark, "Has your friend always been an insensitive ape?"

Ivy giggled and Xan gave a loud "Hey!"

"And don't flatter yourself," Luna snapped at Xan, "You are not guests. You are a hinderance. A nuisance."

"Gee wanna explain that?" Xan said scathingly. Ivy shot him a look of disapproval.

"Xan! Manners!" she exclaimed.

Luna walked up to him. Small she may be, but there was a type of aura that Luna emitted that kept Xan silent. She looked at him in disgust.

"Your species are a primitive kind who only seek power by the downcast of others," Luna began. She said this as if she had been waiting a thousand years to justify her actions, "You kill and pillage and even after a millennia you have not changed. You don't care about the welfare of other species and always seek to be on top by any means. Your presents here only serves to remind us of the bleak past we had to suffer through. You are a scar that is left on me and my sister. And..." Luna trailed off.

To Xan's and Ivy's utter bewilderment, Luna pressed herself up against Xan. Her eyes were starting to stream.

"And all I can do is ask for your forgiveness," Xan looked from Luna to Ivy and then even to the guards. They just shrugged. "My sister and I have almost nearly brought the extinction of your kind. The slaughter if billions of innocent individuals can never be justified..."

The throne room doors opened and Celestia poked her head out.

"Making friends, Luna?" she asked with a smile. Luna returned it.

Everyone was now in the throne room. In he two main thrones sat Celestia and Luna side by side. On Celestia's left sat Twilight, looking considerably more relaxed and happy. In front of the three equines were the two humans.

"So," Celestia began. The silence in the room was absolute, her voice echoing off the walls, "Before we go into any kind of negotiations," she continued, "I must first apologize for the way I have presented myself earlier."

"Not a problem," Xan said coolly. Ivy glanced sideways, her eyebrows creased. Celestia smirked.

"Now, if you please, explain your reasonings for a peace and not war. Surely you want to destroy the species that has done you great harm in the past?"

As Celestia said this, Twilight looked up at her, "What exactly DID you do?-" she started to say.

"Hush, dear," Celestia said quietly down to her pupil, "Now is not the time..."

"AHEM," Ivy coughed. Celestia looked back up and Luna gave a slight giggle, "Your Highness," Ivy began, "We know of the crimes of hate and spite you've committed against our people. Our king feels that we must wage war against you and that the spilling of your blood can be the only thing to compensate for our demise in the past."

Celestia nodded.

"However," Ivy continued, "Many, if not most, of our kind seek a peaceful resolution. We know that a war against one of the most densely populated and powerful species in this world will inevitably bring the final end to our kind. I must admit that we can put up a pretty good fight," Xan smirked, "but this war is too much for us."

"We are still a surviving race," Xan said again, "As mentioned before, we have no allies, only enemies. The proud Griffon Clans and the mighty dragons see us as vermin and hunt us whenever possible."

Celestia put her hoof up in deep thought.

"We need to keep the past passed," Xan continued, "If we have any hopes in surviving any longer, we can only afford to make alliances."

"What say you, Luna?" Celestia said turning to her right.

"What they say is true" she replied, "I can see no loss in making an alliance with their kind, only the gain of perhaps a few good years of peace between two long rivaled species."

"Yes, but there is the issue of your king," Celestia said turning back to the two humans, "What does he say about this peace? From what I can tell, he is quite against it."

"Ah..." Ivy began to say, "That's where we were hoping you'd help us with."

"Oh?" Celestia said raising her eyebrows.

"Uh..." Ivy said rubbing the back of her neck, "Daddy can be very stubborn..."

Daddy? Well, well, well, now if they needed a hostage, Celestia had the daughter of the king of humans. But that wasn't the main point right now, so she put that thought aside.

"Does your father know you are here?" Luna asked glancing up at Celesita.

"Not that we know of, ma'am," Xan said.

"And since when did you start calling me 'ma'am'?" Luna said with a giggle. Xan bit his lip.

"For all the king knows," Celestia said ignoring her sister, "We could have kidnapped you, which would provoke the war even further."

Ivy looked down, "Oops..."

"However," Luna said, "Keeping you safe and NOT hurting you, we can show that we are ready to make peace."

"My thoughts exactly, Luna," Celestia said with a smile, "But we must still convince the king to accept our offer peace. We can only hope he does accept."

"In the mean while, please stay here for tonight," Luna said, "We can offer said protection and safety until matters are set."

*************

Twilight Sparkle was again in her library home. The afternoon's events were very tiring. She had been made host to two humans, who were attacked by Spike, watched her dear Princess Celestia weep like a foal, and still hadn't had her questions answered. What had the two regal sisters done to have provoke a war? When did this all happen? Why was it happening now? Twilight's mind was so full of new information and questions that her head was pounding. Maybe a good night's rest would clear everything up. With that in mind, Twilight and Spike both prepared for bed. Twilight hopped onto her bed and buried her face into her soft pillow. With a sigh, she slowly started to relax.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Twilight groaned. Who could THAT be? And at this hour? She was just about to fall asleep and get some well deserved rest. Spike on the other hand was fast asleep.

Twilight made her way downstairs and to the door. She opened it only to be shocked by what she saw.

The streets of Ponyville were packed with soldiers. Earth ponies, unicorn mages, and Pegasus air units, all clad in dark grey armor, were occupying what seemed to be every crevice of Ponyville. They marched in platoons left and right, each carrying a menacing sword or spear. The unicorn soldiers were practicing combat magic, freezing dummies into ice and igniting them in place. Pegasi units were zipping to and fro in the air. Each had a crossbow mechanism attached to their back. With deadly accuacy, they swooped down and hit practice targets dead center. A few even carried wicked looking knives. Two large earth pony soldiers appeared in front of Twilight's door.

"Twilight Sparkle?" one asked in a deep voice.

"Y-yes?" Twilight answered.

"This is her residence," the other soldier said. He turned his head behind him, "Over here! Bring them here!"

There was a light scuffling noise behind them. Twilight looked over to see her five friends.

"Hey! Quit shovin'!" Applejack yelled.

"Get you filthy hooves off of me!" exclaimed Rarity.

"Hey hey hey! No pushing Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie said.

"Stop... Urf... Pushing.... Me!" grunted Rainbow Dash.

"Uhm, please stop... Eep! Uh..." came Fluttershy.

The five mares were shoved forcefully through the narrow doorway into Twilight's home.

"What is going ON?" she asked in mild irritation.

"Yes, I'd quite like to know that myself!" piped up Rarity dusting herself off.

"Yeah, why are we here against our own will?" Dash yelled.

"You best keep your muzzle shut," one soldier growled, "before I shut it for you." Rainbow Dash sized him up. She realized she was much smaller than he was and backed down.

"You are all here," another soldier said, "Under the orders of the great Princess Celestia herself."

"The princess made us come here?!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, "For what, like, a party?" The soldier sighed and placed his face in his hoof in irritation.

"You are the Elements Of Harmony," he said, "You are our top priority to protect. Her Highness, Princess Celestia, placed us, one of the elite squadrons, in charge of keeping you safe."

"Well then why'd y' have t' rough handle us?" Applejack said indignantly.

"You were being UNCOOPERATIVE," one soldier grinned.

"Are you implying ah'm stubborn?" she asked. Applejack turned to her friends, "He called me stubborn! Lemme at 'im..!" Rarity and Fluttershy darted forward and held back Applejack. Again, the guard smirked loudly.

"You are to remain inside this building until further notice," the soldier said.

"You're placing us under house arrest, aren't you?" Twilight said coolly.

"Well," the soldier said with a smile, "I wouldn't put it in those exact words, but yes."

"You can't do that!" she yelled back.

"Oh?" the soldier said standing up straighter and taller. He looked very intimidating for an earth pony, "Are you going against your Princess's orders?"

Twilight glared at the soldier, but then backed down.

"Good," he said satisfied, "We'll be patrolling the perimeter and casting a bubble spell around the area. Nothing gets in and nothing gets out. That way we can keep the enemy out and keep you safe."

Rainbow Dash snorted.

"Good even ladies," the soldier said, "Try not to too RAMBUNCTIOUS..." The thuggish soldiers exited the library.

"Rambunctious?" Rarity gasped, "Well, I never..."

"So this is really serious then?" Rainbow Dash asked Twilight, "There's really a war going on?"

"Yes..." sighed Twilight.

"An' what happened to them uh, humans, didja call em?" Applejack  asked.

"They're safe in Canterlot," Twilight replied, "Hopefully they can help us avoid any more loss. But in he mean while, let's just make the best of things."

"So..." Pinkie Pie said slowly, "A slumber party?"

Twilight smiled. It was only Pinkie Pie who could see the need to party even in the shadow of a war. She always had to find some excuse to brighten up everyones' day, no matter how bleak.

"Yes, Pinkie Pie," Twilight said, "Slumber party."

The six mares, still deeply troubled by war and it's influence on the town, all headed upstairs to Twilight's room. There they spent the night laughing and talking, bashing on the soldiers left to protect them, and seeing how many funny positions they could put Spike in before he woke up. Twilight looked out the window some time later.

Soldiers were scattered everywhere. They knew that the battle would soon come to them, and all they could do was wait. Many of the ponies in Ponyville thought it would be smarter to flee the town into bigger cities where protection was more readily available. Some stayed in their homes, hopeful that the battle wouldn't disturb their tranquil life style. Others found it hard to leave. This place was everyponys' home. They had built their lives here and they could not bare to see it burn to the ground. The fillies and colts were the first to be shipped out of the town. Some families were torn apart. Parents volunteered to defend Ponyville and sent their foals away to Canterlot, making hollow promises of being reunited.

Twilight caught a glimpse of the Apple family. Big Macintosh was leading Granny Smith and Applebloom to a large cart at the edge of town. Twilight could hear what they were saying.

"Ah don't wanna go! Don't let them take me Big Mac!" Applebloom screamed. She was bawling and crying, being held in Big Macintosh's forehooves, "Don't leave me! Were family! We gotta stick TOGETHER!"

Big Mac didn't say anything. His expression was hard set. He lifted Applebloom into the large cart. It was filled with other younglings, crying and begging their parents not to leave them.

"Ah'm sorry Applebloom..." Big Mac said, "I promise i'll come back." He kissed her forehead.

"Liar!" she screamed, "Ah know yer all gonna die! Don't stay here! Come with us! Or at least let me stay!" Again she was crying, "Please don't leave..."

"Ah'm sorry..." Big Mac said again. The cart started to move forward. The expression on Applebloom's face cut through him like a sharp knife. First it was a look of disbelief. How could Big Mac abandon his little sister like that? The it turned to one of disgust.

"If you don't come back!" Applebloom screamed at the top of her lungs, "Ah'll NEVER forgive you! Ah have no brother!" Big Mac and Granny Smith stood and watched until the cart disappeared from sight.

"Y' did the right thing, Mac," Granny Smith said shakily.

"Ah hope so," Big Macintosh replied, "Y' know, y' coulda gone with her, be safer."

"Nonsense," chuckled the aging green mare, "With all these new hungry soldiers around, somepony's gotta feed 'em," she looked up at her grandson, "An' Ah'll bet yer gonna volunteer t' fight?" Big Mac snorted.

"Ah hafta," he said, "If ah can stand, then hell, ah'm gonna fight. They need all the help they can get."

Granny Smith sighed.

"If that's what y' gotta do," she said wearily, "Then that's what y' gotta do..."

Back up on the library, Twilight wiped a tear away as she watched the Apple family become one less. The war impacted everyone. Friends were hushed up, love was scarce, and families were left in tatters.

"Hurts t' watch, don't it?"

Twilight turned her head to the right and saw Applejack. She hadn't noticed Applejack was watching the scene with her.

"I'm so sorry-" Twilight began.

"Don't be," Applejack said, "If it's gotta be done, it's gotta be done. We all need t' stay and fight. Er at least prevent any more damage." She turned to Twilight, tears brimming her eyes, "And if we gotta give up our lives fer our family 'n friends, then it won't be wasted."

**************

Have you ever noticed that when ever you want to desperately fall asleep, you never can? Maybe you have that one alarm clock that decides to choose that one night to tick the loudest? The rhythmic ticking keeping you awake all night, almost like laughing at your efforts to sleep. Everyone else in the house is fast asleep and you feel like the only one in the world being kept awake. You know that feeling? Because Twilight Sparkle does.

The night was as late as it was noisy. The whispers and babble that came from outside caused a din that kept Twilight awake. Her friends were all miraculously soundly sleeping. Pinkie Pie especially, snuggling up against Rainbow Dash on the couch. Applejack and Rarity were sharing a bed, and Fluttershy, being to afraid to sleep alone, was in bed next to Twilight, slowly snoozing away.

Twilight herself didn't really even know why she was still awake. Maybe it was the noise outside where she could hear all of the worried voices whispering about the horrors of war. Maybe it was the thought of so many young foals being forced away from their parents. Maybe it was the impact that harmony in Equestria was never set in stone. But perhaps most of all, maybe it was the fact that her idol, the perfect, kind, loving, divine, selfless princess, was not what she claimed to be for these past thousand years. Twilight sighed in worry as she continued to hear the din outside.

"So when do you think they'll come?"

"I don't know. Well just have to wait."

"Maybe if were lucky, they won't come..."

"Yeah, and maybe I'm Princess Celestia's brother."

"I miss my family..."

"See this picture here? That's my little filly..."

"Hey remember when ma used to cook us dinner every night?"

"Yeah, and to think we took that for granted..."

"Are you okay?"

"Ah, I'm not too old to fight."

All of these different conversations had a different story behind them. Each unique, yet bonded in the shade of an army ready to defend them.

"Hey, where's Star Light?"

"Beats me. Last I saw, he was- URK..."

Twilight sat up straight, her ears perked up.

"What the?..."

"INCOMING!"

Suddenly, there was a thunderous roar. It sounded like heavy hail raining upon the buildings. But as quickly as it came, the noise stopped.

"What the hay?..." said Applejack as she awoke suddenly.

"Wh-what was that?" Fluttershy whimpered as she hid under the covers.

All six mares were now wide awake. Five of them, Fluttershy still hiding in bed, ran to the window. Each of them gasped at what they saw. The town was covered in what seemed to be tall grass. It stuck out from the sides and tops of buildings, the ground, and the magic bubble that protected them. Upon closer inspection, the six friends realized that they were arrow shafts.

The raining arrows were quick, but they had done a fair amount of damage. A few bloody figures could be seen on the ground looking like grotesque, overlarge pin cushions. More soldiers had smaller wounds, pulling out arrow heads from shoulders, legs, arms, and from in between chinks of armor. It wasn't anything they couldn't handle. But there was another noise.

With a sound like a growing tidal wave, the ground began to shake. A single Pegasus soldier flew up to see what was coming. An army of human troops was charging towards Ponyville.

"Here they come!" the Pegasus shouted.

"First strike! Ready firebolts!" yelled a unicorn Mage. All the magical units' horns started to glow at once. From each horn, a lightning bolt incased in flames erupted. Each bolt flew in an arch towards the advancing humans. Fire rained down upon them.

"They're still coming!"

The humans were still advancing. They were clad in dragon scale armor. The shed skin of a dragon was strong and still contained magical properties. The humans in the armor were mostly protected from the vicious flames. A great number however, were struck in the gaps in their armor. They burst into flames and cooked within their shells.

All hell broke loose. The streets of Ponyville were flooded with soldiers, both equine and human. Slashes of blades and streaks of red were appearing left and right. Flashes of deadly magic, fire and lightning, illuminated the grim battle field. More arrows and spears were hurdling through the air, some landing in the ground and others hitting and dropping their targets. Pegasus air units swooped through the air raining deadly bolts and heavy rocks onto the enemy.

"Protect the Elements!" a pony cried.

Each pony soldier, each platoon had a common goal, to protect the Elements of Harmony and Ponyville. However, the persistent humans were becoming too much. Nets were being flung into the air, snatching up some Pegasi. Others were impaled by arrows through the wings and dropped to the ground still alive. Earth ponies were wrestled to the ground and unicorns were bashed over the heads and knocked out.

"There!" a human yelled, "That building over there! There must be something of value in it for the need of all this protection."

The humans screamed in agreement. Using swords, battering rams, and even their own fists, the humans began to attack the magical barrier. The six ponies in the library gasped as the protective bubble started to crack like glass. Magic was strong, but it had it's limits.

The bubble shattered. From downstairs, Twilight could hear the humans breaking down the door and making their way to her room. The six friends braced them selves.

The door was kicked open by a single human soldier. As the door fell to the ground, Twilight's horn glowed and he froze in place, incased in ice. The frozen figure fell onto it's side with a dense THUNK and more soldiers poured in. Applejack was able to buck one, striking him in the temple, dropping him to the floor, limp and unmoving. But in the small room, the six friends could do little to resist. They were all forcibly held down. Six humans stood over them, each raising a sharp sword above the ponies' neck.

"Wait!" cried one of the humans, "Wait. These six were protected by a whole town," the soldiers lowered their swords. The yellow pony was sobbing in fear, "If they were that important, imagine how much of an asset they could be to us."

The soldiers in the room nodded and muttered in agreement.

"'e's right," said another human, "We can use these things for ransom or somefing. Put them in the cages with the others! And for the magical ones, bind their horns in metal."

The Elements of Harmony were carried out of the building. Both Twilight and Rarity had what seemed to be a metal cones locked onto their horns. It was tight and uncomfortable. Twilight tried with all her might, but she couldn't feel any magic flowing through her horn. They were all thrown into a cage along with numerous other ponies. They all sported bloody wounds and bruises. Looking around, Twilight could see the aftermath of the battle. Countless bodies littered the streets of Ponyville. There were also numerous cages scattered around, each holding a crowd of ponies taken as a prisoner. She could also see Big Macintosh laying in a cage, unmoving.

"I'm sorry we couldn't protect you..." croaked a battle damaged soldier in the cage.

"You did the best you could," Rainbow Dash sighed, "It's not like we helped any..."