My Little Fire Emblem – Uprising Generation

In the Brightmoon Tower, Flash was tasked to clear out the first floor... Alone.

"Heh heh... This is going to be fun." Flash chuckled and with a swing of his Slim Sword, charged straight at the horde of revenant and entombed yelling his lungs out. With a single slice of his sword, reduced half the revenant and two entombed into dust while mindless revenant continued to charge against him. No matter how hard they tried, they could not hit the orange pegasus. And even if they did, their claws broke as they slashed across his armour without leaving even a scratch.

"You're not worthy to injure me!" Flash taunted as he retaliated against the revenant. With no less than 5 minutes, the entire floor was completely wiped out of undead monsters.

"Wow sir!!! It's like a new record!" Derpy complimented

"Oh shush..." Flash blushed "alright, now it's your turn Derpy."

"Wh-What?"

"I said, it's your turn to clear the first floor like I did... Alone."

"Um..."

"There's no archers around, just revenant, so you would be fine." Flash comforted

"Can I say no?"

"No."

"Help me..."

"Fine, Bonbon can go with you."

"Thanks, but can I have at least somepony who can fight?"

"Derpy, don't procrastinate, the sooner you fly into those enemies, the better."

"Oh no... Please help me." Derpy prayed as she flew into the fray. Like Flash however, she managed to finish off every revenant and bonetrotter in one battle encounter and using a new Iron Lance, worked it's durability from 45 into 19 uses left and Bonbon didn't even have to heal her.

"Not bad yourself Derpy." Flash complimented "although... Those two hits were avoidable."

"You're a paladin!" Derpy complained "you've got better armor than I do!"

"And you're a pegasus knight."

"Um..."

"Harsh but true." Flash interrupted "still, you did put out quite a show. You can rest for the next floor."

"Loads of loosely held items by enemies" Twilight noted "so get the best of them." The second floor was wiped clean with Fancy, Fluttershy, Derpy, Cloudchaser, Twinkleshine, Dinky, Bonbon, Rarity and Colgate.

"Hah!!!" Fancy laughed "child's play!"

"And I thought I could take a rest..." Derpy grumbled

"There's still a mystery I cannot solve..." Twinkleshine wondered loudly

"Is it about the dark creatures?" Colgate asked

"No, it's about these magic tomes." Twinkleshine corrected "The fire book of mine just split into two." She showed the Light Priestess the powerless tome in two pieces.

"Hmm... A troubling case indeed. What caused it?"

"I think the question is who caused it?" Twinkleshine glared at the thief.

"Well it wasn't me!" Cloudchaser defended and suggested "but the tome kinda broke in the same way my knives did. Maybe tomes have durability like weapons do?"

"Now that you mention it..." Colgate added "I don't feel the fiery aura out from this tome anymore. Maybe Cloudchaser is right."

"Okay then, I'll agree with you just this once Cloudchaser. Sorry for the accusation." Twinkleshine apologised.

"All right team, it's going to be the same ponies as before, but different floor. There's a treasure chest so feel free to loot that Cloudchaser." After restocking from the emergency armory, the group had pushed through and took out the Elder Bael.

"Yuck... Spiders..." Rarity grimaced

"There's worse things than that." Twinkleshine chuckled

"Nonsense. What else could there be?"

"You'll see." Twinkleshine promised "I think..."

"Well fought team!" Twilight applauded "now, let's head off to Solus Oppidum!"

The Solus Oppidum range... According to Sweetie Belle, a little-known passage to Mayronyl lies there, hidden with its cracked red bedrock and knife-edged peaks. To avoid Bitland and combat, Twilight's troops take the mountain path. They begin climbing higher and higher toward Solus Oppidum. Unbeknownst to the group, hordes of dark creatures roam the peaks.

Chapter 11: Creeping Darkness

Clearing away the fog, the party stumbled through the mountain range.

"We're nearly there!" Sweetie Belle encouraged "come on! My teacher lives just up ahead."

"Slow Down Sweetie." Twilight caught up gasping for air "let's stick together."

"The fog's getting thicker." Lyra looked around "I don't really expect any more surprise attacks, but that doesn't mean we--"

"quit worrying madam!" Sweetie interrupted "you're going to get left behind!"

"... Don't speak to me, filly." Lyra glared "I don't tolerate insolence."

"Lyra." Twilight explained "she's just a foal. There's no reason to be rude. She is helping us after all."

"That's right." Sweetie boasted "without me, you'd never get where you're going. So come on already!"

"Stop." Lyra commanded "don't take another step."

"Huh? That's going to make it awfully hard on where we need to go though."

"... That fort... What do you know about it?" Lyra pointed out "It looks like that it's been abandoned for some time. Is there anypony using it?"

"Nope." Sweetie replied "it's really run-down. No pony ever goes here. It's been empty for ages, I've been inside so that's why I know about it."

"Is that so? Then what's that sound? And where is it coming from?" Lyra asked

"Huh? What sound?" Sweetie asked then listened carefully "on second thoughts, you're right... There is a weird noise coming from the fort. You could hear that? Neat!!! You've got really good hearing!"

"I'm a sniper... Of course I can hear from afar. It's how I hunt down enemies, duh..."

"Wonder what it is?" Sweetie Belle asked

"There goes the sound again." Twilight noted "Princess, is this..."

"Twilight." Lyra warned "get 11 of your troops ready and prepare them for battle... I think we've been spotted by monsters. They're coming and fast."

"Sweetie, it's dangerous. Get behind me." Rarity warned

"No way sis! I'm going to fight too." Sweetie replied determined

"No, you're too young. You're not ready for this. Are you going to do as I say or not? I don't know what I would do if you got injured"

"Well, the healers we have could take a look at it... But OK." And galloped to the safety of the convoy.

In another entrance at the fort, the Pink Alicorn and the DJ unicorn made their entrance.

"What spacious chambers!" Cadence marvelled "a bit musty... But I like it. I've decided that we'll bed here for the night. I do wonder where Octavia disappeared to though... I told her not to wander off but..."

"Hey! Lady Cadence, this could be trouble!" Vinyl warned

"What is it Vinyl?"

"Look over there! Through that break in the fog... There's some nasty creatures running around in this place."

"B-But... I can't see a thing. But this can be nothing but good fortune shining on us again. Losing our way in the mountains and running into these abominations? It is by Providence that we are to destroy these foul things! Come Vinyl! Let's dish some damage!"

"All right!" Vinyl cheered as she levitated her massive axe "my heart and ears beat to the sound of battle!"

"Derpy! Scootaloo! Cloudchaser! Button Mash! Applejack! Lead the party and scout out any enemies!" Twilight instructed "Bonbon! Dinky! light the paths for them! Colgate! Flitter! Rumble! You'll be helping me support the front party!" She raised her Rapier "Charge!!!!!"

"Oh no..." Bonbon faltered as she lit up the hallways of the fort. "The entire entrance is swamped with bonetrotters!

"They look tougher than before!" Applejack warned as they advanced "they could seem like they could kill!"

"Don't they always kill? But no problem, they can fall by my blade." Rumble chuckled

"Please don't Rumble!" Scootaloo cried "you're too valuable to lose!"

"Since when have you ever cared for me?"

"Every soldier-- no! Friend is valuable to me!"

"Crap... We've been trotting all day and night and we run into nothing but enemies and monsters." Button sighed "is this our end? To be honest, I'm scared... Mom?"

"Button..." Dinky started but decided to stop as she was scared too. Everypony seemed to be upset as they scaled towards the upcoming enemies, fighting against their grief and sadness.

"Ponies... We have to keep our act together!" Cloudchaser encouraged

"but how? How long have we fought? How long until we know that no enemy is on our trail? Whenever can we be safe?" Flitter started as she started to cry.

"NO! DON'T YOU DARE CRY NOW!!!" Cloudchaser roared but she still burst into tears.

"Damn... We can't fight like this! The fear of the enemy is too great for us!" Derpy assessed

"How can we face this fear?" Cloudchaser asked "Twilight depends on us! We have to fight for ourselves and for the others!"

"Come on dear!" Derpy encouraged her daughter "stand strong!"

"Mommy..." Dinky wept

"Everpony! Please! Don't give up!" Twilight yelled

"It's no use Twilight." Lyra concluded "everypony's too tired and scared."

"No we're not!!!" Cloudchaser yelled "We can still do this!!!"

"Everpony!!! This is not the time to give up!!!" Derpy joined in the yelling "We have each other!!! We keep each other alive!!!"

"Yes!" Twilight joined in "Have faith in me!!! Have faith in your friends!!! That's what friendship is all about!!!"

"For everypony... For Flitter... For my former home village... I WILL FIGHT!!!" Cloudchaser yelled vowing to the air, as if it was a heaven-sent response, an object in Cloudchaser's inventory glowed white for everyone to see.

"Cloudchaser! Something on you is glowing!" Flitter noted as the light from the Ocean Seal devoured the item and grew in size to cover Cloudchaser in a glowing light "now you're glowing Cloudchaser!"

"So are you mommy!" Dinky gasped as she saw an item with Derpy glowing white and this light that also caused Derpy to glow.

"Is it time now?" Derpy asked Cloudchaser

"Well that escalated quickly..." Twilight noted, thinking a few moments ago before they reached the fort.

"Derpy. Cloudchaser." Twilight walked to those two certain mares

"Princess." The two saluted

"Listen, I fear as we go up and through the mountains, the challenges and toil we face will be taxing. If we were to encounter a battle there, the entire morale of the party will collapse."

"That's true. I can see Flitter being worn out." Cloudchaser nodded

"Same with Dinky." Derpy added

"Listen, if that dreadful situation comes, I want you not to drop your guard, but to encourage them on. Show them that it isn't over."

"Seems hard. But I'll do it, for Flitter and Flash." Cloudchaser agreed

"For Solaria and Lunata and my daughter, I will help." Derpy nodded

"Thank you so much my brave little ponies. Please hold on to this for a token of my gratitude. You shall get this Cloudchaser." And Twilight levitated an Ocean Seal into Cloudchaser's bags.

"That Ocean Seal from Port Kirin..." Cloudchaser remembered

"And Derpy, this is for you." Twilight levitated an Elysian Whip into Derpy's bags.

"That Elysian Whip from Rearvall!" Derpy remembered

"I hope that when the time comes. You will be able to be one of the core members of protection and morale, like Flash and Lyra. You are dismissed."

"Yes." Cloudchaser nodded with relief and hope to Derpy "it's time."

"Then let's do this!" Derpy happily stated. Simultaneously, the two pegasi flew into the air with a massive jump, creating a burst of light and leaving behind a trail. Four large balls of light (two for Cloudchaser, two for Flitter) chased after their pony, swirling around the trail. As the pegasi slowed down, the balls continued to get closer until they collided together with the pegasi resulting in a massive explosion of light. As the light died down, the entire party saw the pegasi levitating down and landing as the enveloped light faded from their bodies. Cloudchaser was now wearing a special armour: Light, strong, durable and can still allow the wearer to run fast and free. Derpy on the other hand, was wearing stronger armour than that of a pegasus knight, and has taken a completely new fighting stance.

"Cloudchaser!" Flitter started as she was lost with words from her best friend's transformation "You've... You've become something else now."

"That's right!" Cloudchaser nodded "I'm no longer a thief anymore. I'm a rogue! My new strength and skills will surely change things for the better!"

"Mommy." Dinky smiled "only the ferocious and superior of Crystalis flyers are worthy to don this class and its power. Now you've become just as ferocious and superior as them!" She then ran to embrace her mother "mommy... You've become a Wyvern Knight!"

"Yes I have dear." Derpy returned the hug. "And I'll know you'll grow to become what you really want too. You'll be as powerful as I am."

"You know, maybe I'll stay safe." Rumble said "but just this once."

"I'll protect you from any lancers!" Scootaloo replied

"All right... We'll still bear this heavy load!" Colgate vowed

"I'm sorry that I decided to give up so early." Button apologised

"Same here." Dinky and Flitter apologised too

"Don't worry, we can do it." Twilight promised

"We'll we'd better hurry! Them monsters are gaining up and fast!" Applejack warned

As the first of the bonetrotters aimed towards Cloudchaser, she skilfully spun her knife around and made a single slit on each of their necks with such skill that it beheaded the monsters.

"That... Was... Awesome." Rumble complimented

"their bones have been decaying anyway." Cloudchaser replied

Inside the fortress, Vinyl was happily hacking away at any monster that comes her way without taking any damage.

"Let's go ponies! Form up!" Twilight commanded the now determined party thanks to the promotion (or more like transformation) of two of their loyal friends.

"I guess we can't fight anything now..." Applejack sighed as they advanced towards the fort with no single enemy in their sights.

"Let's get ready to fight back then!" Colgate encouraged

Only a few enemies managed to strike Scootaloo with minimal damage.

"That was nothing!" Scootaloo taunted. Meanwhile, Vinyl continued hacking away at any enemy coming for them.

"Do you hear that?" Cloudchaser alerted "sounds like fighting!"

"Somepony's on the other side then!" Applejack answered

"let's help them out!" Dinky suggested

"agreed. Let's go!" Twilight nodded

The team only managed to take out one or two enemies slowly and steadily.

"This is going to be a long fight..." Button sighed

The monstrous enemies started to make Twilight their target and got the worst of the Princess' attacks. A Bonetrotter with a longbow made a shot at Dinky and missed.

"Aaaaaaaahhhh!!!!" Derpy yelled as she drove her lance brutally into the bonetrotter archer's chest, taking him by surprise. "Don't you dare harm my daughter!" She replied as her second drive skewered the monsters head and did a shuttle loop back to her original position.

"Be careful... There are deathgoyles ahead." Cloudchaser warned

Every enemy now wanted to strike the newly promoted Wyvern Knight Derpy and fell under her terrible might. Only one enemy had offered a Chest Key, which Derpy took and in the next turn, received a secret book from a nearby chest.

"We're nearly there!" Twilight encouraged as she stabbed an evil eye "keep going!" And turned her attention on the incoming Mauthe Wolves.

"I've got your back princess." Rumble noted as he killed one of the wolves. "Get to that third party."

"We're getting surrounded!" Twilight alerted as she was damaged by surrounding gargoyles. "I need backup."

"Let me at them!" Flitter noted

Sure enough, Flitter sent two arrows towards the gargoyle attacking Twilight to send it down. The other gargoyle was triumphed over Button's Lancereaver.

"There's some revenant behind us!" Applejack warned

"Be careful!" Twilight warned

"Treasure chests, here we come!" Cloudchaser giggled then stopped as she scouted the majority of creatures waiting outside the front gate

A nasty surprise was played on the team when one of the bonetrotters outside OPENED the door and sent the entire force charging in.

"An immediate surprise attack." Rumble coughed as he bared the pain from an arrow

"Well we can counter that!" Flitter supported as she shot a gargoyle twice causing it to plummet to the ground.

"That is true." Rumble agreed as he won the faceoff against an archer.

"Scoots! Help me deal with those revenant." Applejack called

"Okay!" Scootaloo acknowledged.

"I'll try and slow down the surprise attack party!" Cloudchaser noted

"Everypony's certainly changed." Twilight watched from a safe place "they didn't want to fight in places such as this, but now they fight harder for their lives and for me... Friendship and trust really is a strong thing."

The gargoyles continued on hacking away at Derpy and had their wings pierced. Not even a deathgoyle could finish the brave and mentally ill pegasus knight.

"Why don't you try eating a muffin?" Derpy joked

"I don't see how that's funny." Flitter noted

"Oh dear, dear traveller, it seems like you got hurt." Cadence chorused "let me heal you and get somewhere safe." And with her mend staff, healed Twilight's wounds.

"Hang on!" Twilight exclaimed "you're... Cadence!"

"Why hello again!" Cadence greeted "blessings do come in threes indeed!"

"Cadence, this place is dangerous." Twilight warned "you should find save haven someplace else."

"Oh, don't worry about us." Cadence giggled "as you well know, my divine mission is to purge these obscenities off the land. I will show you the splendour that is Cadence in action! Behold!" And she charged into the fight

"B-But, you're just a healer, you can't fight..." Twilight protested then called out to her "at least join our forces for the time being!"

"Vinyl." Cadence called

"What's up Lady Cadence?" Vinyl greeted

"we will be eradicating these unclean monstrosities under the help of some very good ponies."

"Sounds awesome! What do you want me to do?"

"Just carry on in your normal matter of destruction. Drop the axe on those beasts and enjoy yourself while you're at it!"

"All right then! I'm your obedient servant after all!" Vinyl chuckled and became a part of Twilight's team.

"I see a bunch of mogalls!" Cloudchaser warned

"Hey Doc." Pinkie asked from the convoy "where do you think the boss monster is?"

"You mean their commander?" He replied "I don't think undead hordes have commanders..."

The mogalls that Cloudchaser spotted started zapping her with their evil eye lasers. One got too close to the Rogue and had its eye slashed by her.

"You could attack from afar..." Cloudchaser giggled

Derpy opened another chest and gained a Short Spear, a ranged lance that's more powerful than a javelin.

"Awesome!" Derpy giggled

"Let's get that last treasure chest!" Cloudchaser commanded

"I'll light the way!" Dinky called as she sent a torch flare to light up the area around the third treasure chest.

"You fight very well" Cadence complimented Twilight "but you did get hit. Allow me to mend your wounds."

There was a door near the third treasure chest and a bonetrotter outside opened the door. A nearby entombed went to attack Cloudchaser. As retaliation, she attacked twice and killed him, guaranteeing a level up for her.

"Hey!" Flitter cried "We need some Experience!"

"It attacked me first!" Cloudchaser defended.

Flitter stuck down a bonetrotter with her bow, after she got poisoned by the monsters weapon.

"Ahh!..." She winced

"Not good... We don't have any restore staves!" Dinky alerted

"There must be something around here..." Cloudchaser prayed

"We've got antitoxins here." Rarity called from the supply convoy.

Believe it or not, the bonetrotter that opened the door pilfered the third chest and stole coincidentally, a Restore Staff.

"Wha? Bonetrotter stole mah treasure!" Cloudchaser alerted

"GET HIM!!!" Flitter yelled, the lethal poisonous pain irritating her mind and emotions as she dodged the sword of a bonetrotter "I can't take this poison!"

"I'll need to clear those distractions first!" Cloudchaser noted as she took on a few bonetrotters.

"That restore is MINE!!!" Flitter yelled as she spun her arrow before putting it back on her bow and firing. The critical impact of the arrow was abnormally strong that as it made contact with the undead thief, the bonetrotter exploded leaving behind the Restore staff.

"Bare the poison a little longer!" Cadence called as Flitter held the staff "I'll heal you with that!"

"We'll start preparing a defence around here for any further monster attacks. The back group has caught up so we can easily wipe out any remaining enemy." Colgate reported

"Then lets finish off the enemies in front of us!" Rumble replied

"I'll block the enemy's way." Vinyl volunteered as she stood in front of the door.

A bonetrotter went after Vinyl with a sword. It managed to hit her and dodge one of her attacks. It's such a shame that it didn't see the swinging axe a second time.

"I've got you there now. Restore!" Bonbon chanted and cured the poison afflicting Flitter.

"Thank you!" Flitter replied

"Umm... There's one more monster left in this area!" Dinky informed the party

"How do you know?" Colgate asked.

"Look, that bonetrotter over there... It looks different."

"That's no bonetrotter..." Cadence corrected "that is a Wight! It's a horrible abomination that is driven by the most gruesome and darkest spell ever, and dangerously strong!"

"What!?" Twilight gasped

"Er... Let's just say its a promoted bonetrotter. Just as the Entombed are promoted Revenant." Cadence explained

"That sounds much better than what you said before." Twilight sighed

"In that case..." Colgate started then galloped towards the Wight.

"Colgate!" Twilight called "get back here!"

"No fear Princess. I will take out the Wight for you!"

"No! You don't know what tricks it can pull!"

"Milady, If I don't come back alive... Please, purge these monsters in remembrance of me..."

"NO!" Twilight and Twinkleshine called

The Wight saw Colgate standing before him.

"Return back into the ground where you come from!" Colgate chanted as she took a bad hit from the Wight's sword as her Shine spell did squat.

"Oh no pal. You ain't fightin anymore!" Vinyl alerted as she grabbed the light priestess.

"Thanks Vinyl." Twinkleshine thanked from the convoy.

"Shall I take her stead?" Rumble asked

"Actually, let's ambush it together!" Derpy suggested

"Great idea!" Twilight noted "everypony! Get to a position where you can attack!"

Believe it or not, the Wight managed to strike Vinyl twice due to her battle axe.

"Uh oh! Time to run!" Vinyl exclaimed

"You've got her here. Now let's get healing!" Cadence giggled

"I'll put that thing in an ambush!" Scootaloo volunteered "I've got good armour!"

"We'll give it a surprise!" Button chuckled

The Wight focused its attention on the flightless knight and although it managed to take half her health off. Of course, undead monsters do not have a brain so they just go attack whatever pony they face.

"GET IT!!!" Button yelled

"SURPRISE!!!" Applejack laughed as everypony attacked the Wight from all directions except from the behind.

"Now for the finishing blow!" Button concluded as he sliced the fleshless body in half. The Wight could move no more and the magic controlling him was snuffed out leaving a lifeless skeleton behind.

"No enemies are left in this area Princess." Fancy reported

"Right. Then it's a victory for us!" Twilight exclaimed as she raised her Rapier high in the air.

"Thank you Cadence." Twilight thanked after the battle

"Please, speak nothing of it." Cadence blushed "it is heaven's dictation that I must come here to cleanse this charming place of monsters. What's important is-- Oh wait! After all the times we've met, I have not had the honour of your name."

"Oh, you're right. It is weird, we've met so many times now that I assumed you already knew me... Sorry about my lack of manners, my name is Twilight Sparkle."

"Milady..." Flash warned

"Don't worry Flash. She's clearly not our enemy." Twilight reasoned

"Twilight..." Cadence wondered and found out "Aha! So you must be Princess Twilight of Solaria! It is simply an honour to meet you! And how strange that we should meet again in this place. You must be lost as well, this continent is really confusing."

"Actually..." Twilight noted "we're not lost at all. You see..." Twilight explained on how her team has arrived here.

"Is that so!" Cadence replied after the explanation. "Well, clearly I must be allowed to journey with you."

"You want to travel with us?" Twilight asked "I mean, I appreciate your offer, but this journey is far to perilous. I don't want to pull you in this madness."

"No, no, no." Cadence refused "there can be no doubt that we were sent here to aid you. It's all part of the Grand Story. I, Mi Amore Cadenza, shall play my role and fulfil my divine duties. I swear!"

"Are you sure this is wise princess?" Flash asked

"Don't worry Flash." Twilight replied

"Well." Cadence turned to Vinyl "that's that, Vinyl. You and I are now travelling with Twilight and her companions."

"Oh yeah!!! The more ponies to fight alongside with, the better!!! I understand though, I would do absolutely anything for you Lady Cadence." Vinyl bowed "I would run to the ends of this world and dive into a sea of evil silence!"

"How very like you, my dear, dedicated Vinyl! So noble!" Cadence complimented

"More like berserk..." Applebloom sniggered

"Applebloom..." Applejack sighed

"Not as berserk as Pinkie though." The Doctor added

"Maybe they would get along with each other." Pipsqueak noted

"Come!" Cadence rounded up "we're off!"

"Ha ha ha!" Vinyl laughed

There was a lone house somewhere in the mountains, the pupil Sweetie Belle knocked and entered the house.

"Miss Aaaaaamethyyyyyyyst... Hellloooooooo..." Sweetie called then waited

"That's strange. She's not here." Sweetie concluded "must be out wandering again."

"She's out?" Twilight asked as she entered the house "that's going to be a problem. Do you know when she'll return?"

"Hmm... Honestly, I don't know." Sweetie answered "maybe you could read a book to pass the time. She normally goes out and looks for people in need."

"... I believe I told you it would be best to stay away." A voice called from a room, and out stepped the unicorn sage from Seramany.

"I've been charged with a mission and must depart soon." Amethyst explained

"Ah! Madam!" Sweetie greeted

"Y-You..." Twilight remembered "we've met before, haven't we? You were looking for somepony..."

"... Oh, yes." Amethyst remembered "and now we meet again."

"These ponies said that they want to go through Solus Oppidum." Sweetie explained "I could guide them myself, but I thought it might be better if you came along as well. That's why I brought them here. What do you say? Will you guide them?" Amethyst pondered at that request.

"Would you, please?" Twilight asked

"... Very well, since I have to go there right now." Amethyst nodded "if you need to go to Solus Oppidum, you're free to follow me."

"You don't mind?" Twilight replied

"We have little interest in the outside world, but we don't refuse travellers." Amethyst explained "I should warn you though: the road ahead is not easy, and you do look very weary. Perhaps you should rest a night before attempting the mountains."

"We do need rest, it's true." Lyra agreed "we are all exhausted from our encounter with those creatures. We must give our ponies time to heal, or they'll be useless in an emergency."

"It's settled then." Sweetie nodded "I'll go on ahead and let the elder know we're coming. See? Even when there's no fighting to be done, I'm still useful!" And galloped away

"No, wait!!!" Twilight tried to stop "... She's gone, I wonder if she'll be all right."

"Idiotic filly." Lyra replied irritated "I understand her need to be helpful, but..."

"Sweetie knows this land well." Amethyst explained "you don't have to worry about her. We'll depart at sunrise. I suggest you all get some rest."

The next day, everypony was up, fresh, and ready to travel.

"Ah! Beautiful day!" Fancy exclaimed

"Well then, here's to another fresh day of travelling!" Applejack toasted.

"Cheers!" Derpy raised her bottle of water.

"Shall we get going?" Fluttershy asked

"We shall." Flash agreed and as they were about to follow Amethyst through the mountains, high speed flyers led by a certain Wyvern Lord intercepted them.

"Princess Twilight of Solaria. Hold." Soarin commanded. In the response of Twilight's party pulling out their weapons and magic in alert against the flyers, Twilight didn't draw hers.

"Who?" Twilight started then remembered "you... You're General Soarin of Crystalis. We met once in the capital, Didn't we? You were very kind to me. However, if you're here now, I have to assume this means..." Her levitating magic was ready to pull out her sword

"Yes." Soarin continued "it does. I wish our reunion could come under different circumstances. Twilight, I must tell you, I come here on the direct orders of the Prince. I'm to bring the rebel army who's been terrorising Bitland to justice. It's you, Twilight. They say you've been murdering innocents."

"What?" Twilight gasped "Wait! What do you mean? I..."

"... If you have something to say, I would hear it." Soarin replied "I know all too well that Crystalis has robbed you of your homeland, but even so... I do not believe that revenge could drive a mare like you to such brutal actions..."

"I..." Twilight tried to explain

"And yet..." Soarin continued "here you are in Bitland with a small army under your command. And the ruler tells us you massacred everyone in Port Kirin."

"That... That's a lie!" Twilight defended "I would never, I could never...!"

"Go on." Soarin allowed Twilight to continue

"... This is ridiculous." Lyra butted in "believe what you want. Could one of the legendary imperial three honestly be as stupid as this?"

"... What do you mean?" Soarin asked confused.

"Bitland betrayed Lunata and set a pack of mercenary dogs to kill me." Lyra explained "and yet you paint Twilight as a rebel instigator? That is such an absurd farce. Your ruler commits horrors and you still believe that Twilight is a rebel?"

"... What are you saying?" Soarin asked further confused.

"You truly are blind, aren't you?" Lyra replied "you're one of the imperial three, and yet you can't see your ruler's plan?"

"That's enough, Princess Lyra." Twilight stopped "there's no need to provoke him. General Soarin, we've told you what we know to be true. What we've seen first-hand. We don't want to fight you... But if you do push us, we'll drive you back to Crystalis with your tail between your legs."

"... I see." Soarin decided "you... Are more observant than you know. I have been ignorant to my ruler's designs. General Cheerilee and I both questioned the wisdom of this war. And if you really are innocent of the crimes attributed to you... Why would His Majesty lie to us? I must know the answer."

"So you... Believe us?" Twilight asked

"The Princess Twilight I met long ago was kind and merciful in spirit. Now, you've faced relentless hardship, and yet that selfsame spirit remains true... Let's put our fight aside for now. I will learn the truth. Then I will once again, perform the duties of my office. If you have lied to me today, I will hound you to the very grave itself."

"Very well." Twilight nodded and with a signal for her ponies to sheathe their weapons, her group followed Amethyst through the mountain path. As Twilight was the last to follow the group, she turned to look at Soarin and nodded at him. Under his watchful eye, he nodded back. Knowing that he won't interfere with them for a while longer, Twilight left the field of confrontation and joined her friends to march towards the village of Solus Oppidum.

As Soarin and his flyers were going to fly back, he came face to face with Lightning and her flyers. Fear spread over his face.

"Soarin, where do you think you're going?" She cooed

"Lightning..." Soarin started

"Oh dear..." Lightning sighed "what am I to make of this? Those little birds I saw flitting away into the mountains looked vaguely familiar. What would happen if it were known that you let Twilight escape?"

"Do as you will" Soarin started "we were after Twilight, but the power of the Princess and that of her soldiers have been too much for us. Only two of my stallions remain and I have been wounded badly, we underestimated them. Once the Princess realised that we we're distracted in our own pain, they retreated to the mountains. I've just finished healing my wounds."

"How disappointing." Lightning shook her head "I thought you'd be better than that. Well, why don't you chase after them?"

"I have questions for our ruler and I am returning to the capital to get them answered."

"Hey hey... No need to rush off now." Lightning giggled "after all, this is the place where you will die. Don't you see?"

"...What are you babbiling about?"

"We were a grand trio." Lightning explained "the imperial three: Cheerilee, you and me. But my place among you was stolen, and I was exiled from Crystalis."

"You slaughtered ponies who had no intention of fighting." Soarin answered with the reason of Lightning's exile "the ruler's punishment was just and warranted."

"Heh heh... Heh Heh... Heh heh heh... After my fall from glory, only desire kept me alive." And devilishly smiled at him "desire for revenge. My hatred burnt so fierce that I was barely able to keep my sanity. That hatred still kept me warmed today. Oh, how it burns..." Soarin kept silent

"Hear me, Soarin, Wyvern Lord General of the Imperial Three. I live for battle. I crave it. I have no need for peace. Now for allowing the Princess to get away and hearing my secret, you must die."

"If I had the power and numbers to chase after them, Lightning--"

"IF!?!?" Lightning lashed out "Thou protector of the damned princess and her peasants, Talk'st thou to me of ifs!? Thou art a traitor! You aren't going back to the capital Soarin, you will be dying right here, right now!" And with that, she furiously threw a Spear penetrating Soarin's body.

"C-Cur... Have you gone mad?" Soarin roared followed with the pain flowing through his body "uurrrgh..." And he used his Silver Sword to keep himself up

"Seriously." Lightning returned to her cheerful and evil demeanour. "I expected a fight between us Generals to be more high in spirits and far more entertaining. I guess you can't entertain me at all, C'est La Vie for me! Now die." And with her other weapon, a Killer Lance, critically drove it into Soarin's heart, making him silent. Lightning howled with laughter after over the dead body her former "ally".

"You should have seen that look on your face." Lightning snickered at the dead body "what a face of sadness. A pathetic and a forgettable death!" After spitting on Soarin, she ordered her troops "Go. The small fish are yours." To kill Soarin's flyers. As Lightning's flyers chased after Soarin's, Lightning laughed to herself.

"Heh heh... This is just the beginning. Endless battles, war without end... Heh heh. Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!"