My Little Fire Emblem – Uprising Generation

"I'm glowing!" Scootaloo gasped after the party went for training again

"I guess it's promotion time for you." Flash remarked "Knight or Cavalier?"

"I'll be a..." She started as the glowing light exploded around her and as it faded, revealed a very strong and sturdy armour around Scootaloo.

"A knight. Wise choice." Flash nodded "shall we join the others?"

"Okay sir!"

Training for Shining's team was, well... Repetitive and redundant. Everypony was really unhappy about how much experience they are gaining from monsters and their small stat increases when levelling up. Pinkie was at a high level and yet she was only fast enough to land one blow.

"Arrgh!!! Why can't we attack more than once!" Pinkie growled

"But, when we were training..." Pipsqueak reasoned

"Revenants do not count." Pinkie interrupted. As everypony was completely annoyed, the team all agreed to go restock some weapons and head across the sea.

General Cheerilee tells them of the enigmatic Dark Stone. The product of Crystalis' research into the dark arts, the Dark Stone possesses power far beyond than that of the Sacred Stones. According to the rumours swirling about, Blueblood's descent into madness coincides with the creation of the Dark Stone. Shining must confirm the existence of the Dark Stone. He decides to travel to Crystalis by sea. Midway through their passage however, an eerie fog begins to form...

Chapter 11: Phantom Ship

In Crystalis keep (for the third damn time!) Trixie presents herself to Prince Blueblood and Princess Sunset Shimmer in order to question his orders.

"Your Majesty... I have returned." Trixie bowed

"Trixie..." Blueblood started "you coward. Why did you not execute Cheerilee? I expected her head."

"Forgive me... It was that Lightning Dust..." Trixie apologised

"Trixie." Blueblood scolded "Cheerilee has betrayed us. She has bent her limbs to Shining. Are you a traitor too?"

"Never!" Trixie rebuked "I am your Majesty's vassal. I am yours, body and soul. Your Majesty, please, another chance, I beg you!" She pleaded "any order you see fit to issue, I will complete!" Blueblood stayed silent until Sunset started talking

"Trixie, I have something for you. If I may teacher?"

"Yes." Blueblood nodded

"What is it, Princess Sunset?" Trixie asked

"I want you to go to Ba'aldbull Marsh and retrieve something for me. It's a dragonstone, a very special kind of rock." Sunset asked

"A dragonstone?"

"That's right. It's very rare. There are only two in the entire world. I've heard rumours of a collector who has one for sale. It looks like nothing but a common gemstone. I need it for my research. If I have that stone... My... Urghh... Uhhhh... Gaahhh..." As she was talking, Sunset felt pain in her body and clutched her pain.

"Princess, are you all right?" Trixie asked

"I'm fine." Sunset comforted "don't worry about me. Now please, find me the dragonstone. Can you approve my request sir?"

"Yes." Blueblood nodded "do as my protege asks."

"Yes, understood." Trixie nodded "Your Majesty, I... I would like to renew my oath of service to you here today. I pledge that I shall never again falter in my duty to you or Crystalis. I beg your leave my Lord." Sunset looked at her with concern as the Mage Knight left.

Somewhere out at sea, a ship was carrying the party of Shining and his crew. As the majority of the team were busy hanging out in their ship cabins, Flash and Pipsqueak were on deck on the back of the ship admiring the big blue sea below them.

"How does it feel like to ride on the big blue?" Flash asked

"It's certainly something!" Pipsqueak exclaimed "arr!!!" He cried "I be the mighty pirate captain Pipsqueak! Any evil pony shall fall under my cursed ship and blade!"

"Ha ha ha." Flash laughed "for as long as I trained you, you never cease to make me laugh." As he watched Pipsqueak play pirate, the young colt suddenly stood frozen with fear, staring at something.

"Pipsqueak?" Flash asked as he saw the frozen colt "are you alright?"

"S-Sir?" Pipsqueak trembled "I-I think I see something amiss over there." Flash scouted with his eyes, the area Pipsqueak was pointing at, an approaching fog.

"Hmm... You're right. It does look amiss." Flash agreed "stay in the cabin safe with the others. That's an order. I'll warn the captain." And as Pipsqueak hurried off to warn the others in the bottom. Flash decided to find the Captain.

"Is this the first time you've seen the ocean Spike?" Shining asked a silent Spike as he watched the clear seas and the beautiful horizon, on the front of the ship

"Yes." Spike answered as his train of thought was broken "It's so blue, so vast."

"It is at that." Shining agreed "you know, this is my first passage on a ship. I've never appreciated just how big the sea is."

"Really? I'd never have guessed you sailed before. You seem so calm."

"If I'm to lead us, I can't let any weakness to show through." Shining explained "I must appear competent and capable at all times. You understand?"

"Shining... Um..." Spike replied

"Captain Shining!" Flash called from afar and flying straight towards him at high speeds.

"I'm sorry Spike. We'll have to continue this later." Shining apologised

"Ah... Okay then." Spike nodded

"Now then Flash." Shining asked as Flash screeched to a halt "what have you got for me?"

"There's a large fog following us and gaining distance. In the fog, there is um... A ship following us. Should I ready our ponies for battle?"

"No need to Sir!" Pipsqueak replied and the two turned around to see the entire party behind Pipsqueak "we are all ready to fight!"

"Thinking ahead. Well done Pipsqeuak." Shining complimented "did you confirm that it's a Crystalis vessel Flash?"

"It's hard to say, the fog makes it difficult to see clearly. However, the crew of the approaching ship does not seem to be... Pony."

"In that case... Get 11 ponies, including me, ready for a fight. I feel we're heading towards a nasty surprise. Be snappy about it Flash."

On the intercepting ship, a certain black pony chuckled to himself.

"Heh heh heh... Rise and rage, my precious children of darkness." Sombra encouraged "ruin the wood and ride the sea! Drown your foes and devour their flesh! Come celebrate the glorious rebirth of your lord and master, the demon centaur! Heh heh heh." And with that, he disappeared in his own shadow form.

"Flitter." Shining called "you'll be on the ready to snipe down any pesky flyers that enter our view.

"Right."

"Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, make sure you pick off every surviving enemy if possible, especially the flyers that Flitter left out. Be careful of archers though.

"Yes sir!!!" Came their reply

"Pinkie, Doctor and Scoots. First line of defence. Prepare for that boarding ship coming from our starboard."

"Sir." Doctor and Scoots saluted

"Oki doki loki!!!" Comes Pinkie's reply, causing the Doctor to hoofpalm.

"Applebloom, Colgate, you're with me in order to support the first line and to prepare for any surprise attack."

"We'll be ready then." Colgate nodded

"Finally, Dinky and Bonbon, both of you are on healing and defogging duties."

"Yes sir!"

"Alright!!!" Shining yelled as he raised his Reginleif, "let's sink the Phantom ship!!!"

"Get to the starboard side of the boat!" Shining commanded "the first wave of undead will be coming from there!!!" Bonbon sent one flare up to show the team what would be coming. All she managed to uncover were a few gargoyles that far away from attack range.

"That will do!!! Prepare to counter attack those beasties!" Shining warned

"Roger!!!" The ponies replied as they stood in formation.

Gargoyles from the east and south of the ponies started advancing towards them. Shining noted that the ship was gaining up on them.

"There! The enemy is closing in! Heads up and prepare for battle!!!" Shining warned. As the enemy ship got near, hordes of monsters rose from the stairs and cabins and were ready to board the Solarian ship.

"What in Celestia...? The enemy ship is full of dark creatures!!!" Colgate gasped

"Crap!!! Everypony! Be careful!!!" Shining warned

Flitter aimed for a gargoyle who flew into her attack range.

"I've got you now!!!" Flitter taunted as she shot down the gargoyle with 2 arrows.

"Let's see if this works." Shining hoped as he equipped a Spear and threw it at another gargoyle. One throw pierced the chest of the gargoyle to where it shrieked in pain and another pierced its head to silence it forever, plummeting down into the watery blue. "All right!!!"

"All heavy armoured units! Take the front!" The Doctor commanded "protect our ranged units against these flyers and the incoming enemy ship!"

With the cavaliers, knight, pirate and wyvern rider on guard, the remaining gargoyle attacked Applebloom while a mogall from the north attacked Scootaloo. Shining then noted the enemy ship preparing long sturdy planks for boarding.

"The enemy has pulled alongside us... They're trying to board!!!" Shining alerted. "However, we can take them on with our melee weapons!!! Charge!!! Board their ship and seize the blasted thing!!!"

Shining was the first to board the enemy ship as Flitter shot the last remaining gargoyle.

"Take this!!!" Shining taunted as he spun his lance around and critically decapitated a revenant with one thrust.

"Take out any nearby archers!" The Doctor advised "it will reduce the risk of injuring allies, especially Fluttershy and Rainbow!" Then proceeded to board the ship and to prevent the enemy boarding party.

"Shine!!!" Colgate chanted and a few bigger bursts of light attacked the mogall and vaporised it in a flash. "This new spell is powerful!" She noted

"Here comes the knight!!!" Scotaloo chuckled as she charged forward next to the Doctor and stabbed a revenant until it was dead again. Dinky decided to light up what's south of the ship only to realise that the south of the ship is surrounded by gargoyles and mogalls.

"Do you think the entire ship is surrounded?" Dinky asked

"Maybe... But looking at our team mates, I don't think they would pose a problem." Bonbon cheered

"We can take care of them." Fluttershy suggested

"Stick close to the ship though." Dinky warned

"Looks like Rainbow's got the same message." Bonbon looked at Rainbow who was flying to the north.

None of the enemies could ever do a single damage on Scootaloo and can only muster a single HP off Pinkie Pie and for a knight, Scootaloo dodged most of the attacks.

"I've never seen a knight manoeuvre that fast!" The Doctor complimented

"That's cause Scoots is a pegasus!!!" Applebloom replied then corrected herself "flightless pegasus... But she can still move fast!"

"Ha! Hurr! Hiyah!!!" Scootaloo yelled as she countered and killed every enemy that approached her.

"Either way, she needs medical attention soon enough. That late mogall did quite the damage!" The Doctor noted

"Too predictable." Shining taunted as he dodged a few javelins.

"This wind from the east..." Rainbow picked up "it's unnatural for this wind to be created by a pegasus trained in either the pegasus or wyvern style. Must be a gargoyle's... So that means there are reinforcements coming from the east!"

Applebloom charged straight on into the fog and bumped into a horde of monsters.

"Uh-oh" Applebloom gulped

"Be careful! It's a trap!!!" The Doctor warned as he drove his Iron Lance into one of the ambushing bonewalkers twice.

"I've got your wounds Scootaloo." Bonbon calmed as she healed the knights wounds "now knock them dead."

"Take out the archers!" Shining reminded as he critically finished one archer.

"Righty-o captain!" Pinkie complied as she slashed another archer twice causing the bones to crumble.

"Such demeanour..." The Doctor sighed.

"Be careful Flitter." Fluttershy warned "there's a Wight that can reach you with a ranged weapon."

"I have a ranged weapon too!" Flitter reminded "I can reach it!" As Scootaloo ended a sword-wielding bonewalker's life, it was the enemy's turn to move.

No monster can ever withstand the might of Applebloom, Pinkie Pie and Shining Armor. As Pinkie defiled an Entombed, she levelled up and got stat gains for most of her stats.

"Finally!" Pinkie sighed

"It's not over!" Applebloom coughed as her HP is getting smaller and smaller due to numerous enemies managing to attack her. Their punishment was a return to sender attack from the small Apple filly with the message of death and for one monster, it was a one-hit kill.

"Gargoyles indeed!" Scootaloo alerted as she saw gargoyles coming in from the east as one decided to drive a lance into her. Too bad that it couldn't pierce her armour at all. The javelin-wielding Wight did indeed aim for Flitter and hit successfully. Flitter got angry and replied with a true arrow to the fleshless knee of one of the Wight's legs. Seeing another chance to strike, Flitter pulled a critical, spinning the arrow before letting it loose on the bow. The impact caused the Wight to crumple into a inanimate pile of bones, like a bowling ball hitting all 10 bowling pins.

"Strike! I mean um... Spare!" Flitter exclaimed with happiness, but it did not last for long. "And there goes my Iron bow..." Flitter sighed as the string had broke from the bow after that critical arrow. "Good thing I've got a Steel bow in handy!" Shining saw something that struck fear and caution into his heart.

"No way... Another ship!?" He cried which alerted most of the ponies "don't worry everypony!!! We'll take the fight to them!" The ship  housed no monster as it boarded, it was something far worse. A pink alicorn and a white unicorn approached the boarding planks.

"Friends of justice! Allies of righteousness and order!" The alicorn called "know that I, Lady Mi Amore Cadenza, have arrived!!! Now, I shall purge the seas of this vile vessel of villainy!"

"Ha ha ha!!!" The unicorn laughed "nice alliteration there milady!!!" The Pink Alicorn stayed silent as she tried to listen for something.

"That's odd... I didn't hear Octavia's voice." Cadence noted "Vinyl, do you know where your classical friend has run off to this time?"

"Let's see..." Vinyl pondered "she was with us at mealtime before we boarded, but..."

"That mare can such a distraction." Cadence sighed "... Oh well, never mind! Let's start taking out these agents of chaos!"

"The Joker?" Vinyl asked "Isn't he a fictional character?"

"Very funny!" Cadence laughed "we obviously watch too much cartoons!"

"Ha ha ha!" Vinyl laughed "Joker or not, you can always leave these agents of chaos to me!!!"

As more reinforcements came, Shining's ponies took care of the ones they were fighting right now. With the courtesy of Flitter, Fluttershy, Scootaloo, Applebloom, the Doctor and Colgate, the Phantom ship was now free of monsters.

"Don't be so suicidal next time." Bonbon advised as she mended Applebloom's dangerous wounds. "I know you're trying to find your cutie mark."

"There are still more enemies." Rainbow warned. "I may not see them due to the fog, but I can feel them coming from the west this time."

It wasn't just the west, all the three ships were surrounded by gargoyles and mogalls and one gargoyle started to attack the Techno berserker. Dodging its attack, Vinyl countered with her heavy Battle Axe and beheaded the beast in one blow. Two mogalls ganged up on Applebloom. The pirate took the message of the first mogall and with that, managed to evade the second.

Vinyl decided to aim for another gargoyle that was behind the one she killed and killed that one too. Cadence just stood seeing Vinyl's actions and not noticing the approaching mogall.

Scootaloo cleared out one of the enemy reinforcements from down the stairs of the Phantom Ship and Colgate occupied that spot to prevent anymore of them coming out while critically purging one of the mogalls. Cadence on the other hand, was minding her own business until she saw Fluttershy heading towards her, striking fear into her heart.

"N-No!!! Do not hurt me!!!" Cadence ordered "I am your doom!!! I'm just a Troubadour!!!" Her courage started to falter as the pegasus was flying closer and closer. Of course, the alicorn was not her target, but the mogall behind her. "Ai yieee!!!" Cadence screamed as she saw the 2nd Princess of Lunata stab a mogall up close to Cadence until it was dead. Cadence sighed with relief until she saw another pony charging towards her. Cowering herself in fear, she waited for that pony or abomination to strike her down but there was nothing. As she looked up, she realised that this abomination as she thought it would be was the Captain of Solaria...

"You are..." Shining asked but couldn't finish as he was mesmerised by the beauty of the alicorn before him.

"Oh thank goodness! I thought you were a foul fiend trying to kill me!!!" Cadence gasped with relief.

"Excuse me?" Shining replied offended, as he broke from his daydreaming due to the alicorn's words.

"Well fret not O weary traveller." Cadence cheered "for I am here to save you!!! I will grant you the favour of my divine aid."

"W-Who are you? And what are you doing here?" Shining asked

"Ah! Can it be?" Cadence asked "do you not know the tales of my deeds? Have you heard of the beautiful young alicorn travelling to defeat evil?"

"Well... No, I haven't." Shining shook his head, making the alicorn step back with an aghast look on her face.

"Oh..." She sighed

"What is it?" The captain asked

"It's nothing..." Cadence shrugged "please pay me no mind. I just feel a bit like being alone and weeping for a while."

"What!? NO!!!" Shining yelled then realised that he was shouting. "I mean, you can't... This is not the time or place to cry right now." He replied with a mellow voice "I'm sure you've noticed, but we are under attack by monsters. I mean, that mogall before could have killed you right now had Fluttershy not killed it. Please do anything to help us now, I would appreciate it."

"R-Really?" Cadence's eyes widened

"Yeah! I'd love to have more friends to fight alongside!!! As my sister said, the more the merrier!!!" Shining smiled

"That's a good idea! I'll do it!" Cadence smiled back then returned to her graceful and courageous self "now, please observe closely, my graceful actions!"

"Wh-What!?" Shining gulped, as he misheard the words 'observe closely' but shrugged it off when realising she meant something else. Cadence paid it no attention and trotted over to Vinyl.

"Vinyl." Cadence called

"Yeah? What's up, Princess Cadence?" Vinyl asked

"We're going to be working together with those fine folk." Cadence pointed to Shining and his team. "Stay close by. Are you ready?"

"Ready as always milady!!!" Vinyl punched one of her hooves into the air. Dinky proceeded to light the area in the west to reveal a grotesque looking gargoyle.

"Ey!!!" Applebloom called "that gargoyle looks different than the others!!!"

"Oh dear!!!" Cadence gasped "that is a Deathgoyle!!! It's a gargoyle imbued with a ferocious magic to make it more powerful!!! It has enhanced its muscles to pierce the bodies of the strongest predators, it has made its wings more sharper in order to fly faster and hunt down its prey!!! It has...!!!"

"Can you repeat that?" Applebloom asked "because ah have no idea what you are talking about!!!"

"Oh... It's just a promoted Gargoyle. Just as the Entombed are promoted revenants."

"That's more easier to understand. Thanks!" Applebloom replied as she sliced a mogall in half with one hit.

"Hold back those Gargoyles!" Rainbow Dash called as she defeated one over the sea. Flitter and Pinkie complied by killing the other gargoyles.

"Stay strong! We're going to take a beating!!!" Flitter warned and the Doctor immediately grabbed Dinky and put her in his safety.

A bonetrotter reinforcement swung at Pinkie with its sword. She dodged neatly then skewered its skull, removing it from its body.

"Hey! Don't get too hot-headed!" She joked "at least I'm not a massive crazy-looking caterpillar!!!"

"Pinkie..." The Doctor sighed "you've been watching TOO much anime..." A gargoyle left over aimed for Flitter and she dodged its thrust. Mogalls diverted their attention to attack Applebloom and Fluttershy. Applebloom takes it hard, but it was ineffective against Fluttershy. The deathgoyle immediately went on the attacking prowl, aiming its short spear against Rainbow and hitting her viciously.

"Urrgh..." Rainbow reeled.

"Things are getting spicy. Be careful!!!" Shining alerted after seeing everything going on. "Can you heal Applebloom?" Shining asked Cadence.

"You mean that axe-wielding Filly? Yes I can!" Cadence nodded and galloped over to mend her wounds. Strategically, Shining told his team how to take the enemy out. With a surprise attack, the Doctor manage to wipe out the last of the gargoyles while Pinkie took on the Mogalls. Rainbow Dash diverted the Deathgoyle's attention in order to take a hit and as Flitter managed to shoot an arrow at it, it took a lot of his health away. With luck, as the winged monster threw the spear once more and she dodged it.

"That was close." Flitter sighed.

"Not over yet!" Shining warned.

Mogalls from the north attacked Bonbon and Scootaloo, harming both of them in the process. One got to close to the knight and had its eye pierced. One mogall attacked Rainbow and left her in a critical position. The Deathgoyle turned its attention to the Pink pony and threw 2 short spears at her. Pinkie was ever so lucky as she dodged both spears with a close call as one hit could mean her life.

"Where do you think you're going!?" Flitter called out "don't you harm my friend!" And with one last arrow, defeated the Deathgoyle.

"Phew!!! Talk about a close call! I saw my life flash right before me!" Pinkie sighed.

"We've still got a bit left to clean up. Stay on your guard, don't get ahead of yourself." Colgate warned as she defeated a mogall. Bonbon saw to Rainbow's wounds while Cadence took care of Pinkie's. The Doctor boarded back to their ship to take out a remaining mogall and Applebloom stood on one of the boarding platforms to strike another mogall from afar.

"I-Is it over?" Dinky asked

"Y-Yeah... I think so." Rainbow nodded

"Captain." Pinkie piped "my Pinkie sense can't sense anything anymore. Looks like the entire area is clear!!!"

"Well that's good to hear." Shining replied with relief as he raised his Reginleif to the air.

Once the ship was safe once again, the ponies that did not fight joined the others to clean up the mess.

"Captain." Flash reported "the enemy ship appears to be empty."

"And once again." Cadence added "the forces of righteousness prevails!"

"We owe our victory to you." Shining thanked "you have my thanks."

"Don't mention it. My name is Mi Amore Cadenza, but everyone calls me Cadence. I'm on a never ending quest to defeat evil in the name of virtue and order." After introducing herself, something hit her memory banks. "Hold on. Part of your cutie mark and the colour pattern of your mane resembles a great familiarity... I remember meeting a young mare who greatly resembles you."

"Do you mean Twilight Sparkle? She's my sister."

"Twilight? Isn't that the name of the Princess of Solaria? And you have a very regal air around you yourself. Do you?"

"My name is Shining Armor, captain and commander of Solaria's army. We're fighting to end Crystalis' invasion. To be honest..." And Shining explained everything on where he and his party are going, and what they are planning to do.

"Oh my!" Cadence asked after listening to the story "in that case, I must accompany you."

"Do you understand that we alone are facing all the armies of Crystalis? We are fighting untold numbers, and our odds of success are embarrassingly small."

"You clearly do not know who I am." Cadence sighed, shaking her head. "Besides, you just fought these monsters like they were nothing! But do not be startled on what I am going to disclose to you... I am the princess of Fugue, heir to the throne and theocracy of the righteous and symphonic!"

"You're the princess of Fugue!?" Shining yelled, completely shocked that he was talking to a royal, and got completely shy. "I-I mean. Y-You certainly don't have the bearing of a commoner, but..."

"EXCUSE ME!?!?" Cadence interrupted, glaring angrily into Shining's eyes

"Ahh!!!! Forgive me!" Shining jumped

"But I understand what you mean." Cadence calmed "my natural nobility gives me away every time. Truth to tell, I began this journey in secret due to dire circumstances. Captain Armor of Solaria, please be assured that Fugue is your ally. I'll let that offence you made earlier pass too. Let's stand together against the villainous Crystalis empire!"

"Oh... Yes. Let's stand together then. You can call me Shining, and sorry about before." Shining bowed in apologies.

"Well Vinyl." Cadence turned to her berserker. "We will now be travelling with Shining and his companions."

"Understood!" Vinyl replied "I would leap into the skies filled with evil suspense and I'd even tie myself with ropes and chains first!"

"Such fabulous devotion! You are truly my most loyal attendant." Cadence complimented "let's be off then."

"Ha ha ha!!!"

"You know Captain..." Flash whispered to Shining "for a Princess with such a... Courageous demeanour, she is a very lovely mare."

"Y-You think?"

"Maybe you should make a move on her."

"W-Why!!! I would dare not abuse a Princess of Fugue!"

"You know I don't mean that. But Twilight did rant about you never leaving her alone. She's been praying and wishing for you to get a companion."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"Captain, please. Ever since I travelled and fought with her. When it was my turn to guard the campsite as Luna watches over us, I kept on hearing your sister praying about the same thing before letting her head rest."

"Oh... Celestia forbid me when I say this... Fine, I will try to keep her company. Twily did say something about being social to others can bring out support links, whatever that means. Under one condition!"

"Now what has that got to do with me?"

"Celestia forbid me when I say this as well... You take care of Twilight too!"

"You've got to be kidding me captain!!!"

"Nope!!! Gentlestallion's agreement! We both fulfil her wishes, be it the easy or hard way. Her wish of her brother getting a marefriend, and her wish of having you as her coltfriend!"

"But. There is no way we have feelings for each other..." Flash reasoned

"Are you forgetting this?" Shining reminded pulling out a parchment that has the list of ponies in Shining's company... And their supports.

"Crap... Fine. Gentlestallion's agreement." Flash nodded "Celestia help us if this fails..."

"Don't jinx it... I kind of like Cadence. Just how you like Twily. Don't hide it from me. We can share it as stallions."

"Shut up."