My Little Fire Emblem – Uprising Generation

An ominous wave of dark creatures washes over the continent of Equestria. Twilight's journey to find her brother, Shining, has grown ever more perilous. But she presses on despite the danger, her will was strong as her magic. The town of Seramany, located on the border of Solaria and Crystalis. The people of both countries have long used this town as a meeting place. It stands as testimony to the friendship that the two nations have shared these many years. Now, however, Seramany is teeming with Crystalis troops.

Chapter 5: Reaching the Empire

"Heh, heh" a young brown colt chuckled "there's a Colosseum in this town. Good thing, my bag's carrying flies." He then spotted a cleric. "Hey! Is that a cleric? Oh well, doesn't bother me. Even though she's cute, I rather prefer buying and playing games." The cleric ran into him by accident.

"Ow! Watch where you're going!" The brown colt cried

"Ahhh! I'm sorry! P-pardon me please!" The cleric turned around and as her hood came off revealing the face of a young unicorn filly with blond spiky hair.

"Just be careful where you're running off to next time." The colt replied harshly but calmly.

"Understood, I will be careful next time. I have to be going now. Good day to you." And the cleric filly left.

"Well, there she goes." The young colt watched "I wonder why she's in a hurry? Oh well, I'd better head to the Colosseum now."

Meanwhile, a Crystalis knight and a wyvern lord were talking while a wyvern rider watched and waited.

"Captain of the Seramany border guard. How are you?" The lord asked "I have orders from his majesty. There has been rumours that Princess Twilight Sparkle is making her way to Crystalis. Find her and take her under custody immediately."

"Yes sir!" Came the knight's blunt reply

"There's another thing... A traitor among the empire has fled Castle Crystalis. Reports say she is hiding somewhere here in Seramany. Do anything to find this turncoat, even if it means tearing the town apart."

"Yes, sir, General Soarin!" The captain obeyed "If she resists, do we have permission to execute her?" Soarin stayed silent for a little while, then granted permission.

"Understood! Crystalis' will be done." The captain replied "The Crystalis empire will repay their debt of betrayal with their blood!"

"His majesty relies on you Captain." Soarin added "don't misplace his trust. That's all"

"Yes sir!" He repeated and left for his position. Meanwhile, the wyvern rider whom is a cyan coloured pony with a rainbow mane approached Soarin.

"Such loyalty to the crown." Soarin noted "If only I could hold such conviction in the righteousness of our emperor."

"Something troubling you Soarin?" The rider asked

"It's... nothing, don't mind me." Soarin replied "let's go Rainbow Dash. Let's fly north-east back to the fort."

"Whatever you say Soarin." Rainbow replied and flew off.

Coincidentally, Princess Twilight and her crew approached near the gates of Seramany.

"It's been so long since I last visited this town." Twilight sighed embracing her memories. "My BBBFF and I used to pass through here whenever we go to Crystalis. I remember the friendship and harmony in which the ponies of both countries lived. Princess Celestia made sure of that and Prince Blueblood also agreed too. No walls dividing our borders, no soldier stood guard in high towers. The border town... To me it was a symbol of trust between Crystalis and Solaria."

"...And now, its finally under the thumb of Crystalis' ruler." Flash concluded

"The peace I remember in this city..." Twilight continued "It seems like something from another time. It's now gone... Forever."

"The city doesn't seem to be heavily patrolled." Flash assessed "the empire thinks that it's not worth guarding since Castle Solaria is under their control."

"Let's not draw any attention" Flash advised "the west gate there is undermanned..."

"Pardon me." A voice called from behind "may I ask you a question?" Flash turned around to see a unicorn in sage's robes

"What is it?" Twilight asked

"I was wondering if you seen a small baby dragon. Purple in colour and green scales?"

"A purple dragon? Nope I've never seen a dragon like that." Twilight shook her head

"Oh... Thank you, sorry to intrude." The sage thanked as she trotted away.

"There was something odd about that mare. Don't you think Flash?" Twilight asked as the sage left.

"She's quite unusual, she doesn't look like a Crystalis spy but..." Flash answered until he heard a loud commotion from the town.

"Catch her! Don't let her escape!" Was what Flash and the team managed to collect

"That way! She went that way!" Another voice the group picked up

"What was that?" Twilight asked

"It's coming from the town in there." Flash answered

"Let's see what the commotion is." And the party trudged carefully without detection into the town.

The cleric from before was running with two Crystalis fighters and a soldier giving chase.

"Traitor Dinky Hooves! Surrender peacefully!" The soldier ordered "come quietly and you may have the chance to explain yourself before His Majesty."

"Wait, please!" Dinky begged "you must listen to me!"

"Take her." Comes the soldier's command ignoring the cleric

"No! Please believe me!" Dinky pleaded "the emperor is not himself. You MUST be able to see that!"

"Impugn the emperor at your peril!" The soldier replied "we've have been told to execute you if you offer any resistance. But your words has condemned you!" At that instant, the border guard had surrounded and covered the insides of the town. At the entrance, Twilight and Flash arrived at the commotion, hearing everything that happened.

"That cleric is a traitor to the throne of Crystalis?" Twilight cried "This is madness!"

The cleric continued running away from the guards but not paying attention to what was in front of her, she crashed into the enemy. Dinky realising her fate was set, let out a sound in defeat and exhaustion. What she didn't know that the enemy she bumped into was Crystalis' main enemy, not her enemy. It was none other than the princess of Solaria and her party of soldiers.

"Are you all right?" Twilight asked the exasperated Cleric

"Who are you?" Dinky replied back after breathing an amount of air back

"I'm from Solaria." Twilight answered "why are these Crystalis stallions after you?"

"You're from Solaria..." Dinky wondered "Oh! I almost forgot! I have something important to tell you! It's about Crystalis..."

"Wait." Twilight interrupted "Crystalis soldiers are coming this way. We'll talk later, let's fight out the interruptions first!"

"Very well Princess. Allow me to help you prepare" Flash started "To achieve victory in this battle is NOT to defeat all enemies like the last battle with the dark creatures. Instead, we are to defeat the commander of the enemy force. It must be that armoured knight over there.

This battle would look like it requires 9 soldiers like before. You of course, are leading this battle and it seems the Crystalis Cleric Dinky Hooves here will also be joining us so that makes 7 for you to pick. I'll leave the decision to you."

"Applebloom, Applejack" Twilight commanded "you'll be leading the pack into the town's main district. I'll back you up."

"All right sugarcube." Applejack replied "stay by me Applebloom."

"Pipsqueak?" Twilight gestured "go to the back corner of the town, it leads up to that armory over there."

"Yes Madam!" He saluted like a pirate.

"Colgate, cover the apple sisters. Twinkleshine, cover Pipsqueak. Bonbon and Derpy, you will be staying behind to help out the team. Plus, there are hordes of archers out there so be careful."

"Right!" Both said in unison.

"As for you, Dinky was it?" Twilight asked "stay behind us."

"All right." Dinky nodded

"Wait... Dinky?" Derpy cried out in seeing a familiar face

"Mommy?" Dinky looked back. With joy on their faces, the two mares embraced each other with tears

"I thought you were dead mommy!" Dinky cried

"I thought you were dead too!" Derpy replied "well, now I know that Crystalis is chasing you down. I'll protect you."

"Wait..." Twilight interrupted "you two know each other?"

"Yes." Derpy nodded "she's my daughter. Dinky, this is Princess Twilight Sparkle of Solaria."

"Wow! You're actually the princess? Everypony in Crystalis is looking for you!" Dinky exclaimed

"How did..." Twilight started

"I sent Dinky to study in Crystalis." Derpy explained "the last letter she sent me told me that she became a cleric."

Twilight squealed "a cleric under Starswirl? The high archbishop of Crystalis? Oh thank heavens! You're such a lucky girl Dinky."

"Yeah..." Dinky sighed "I was..."

"Oh well then, let's start the battle shall we everypony?" She announced and held her rapier up to the sky followed with the battle cries and cheer of everyone else, the battle begins!

The same brown colt came out of the arena grumbling.

"So much for making a fortune..." He sighed "now how can I buy games!?" He cried and yelled "Mooooom!!!!!"

"You there! Mercenary!" The enemy soldier called out "what are you doing here at the arena? Get back to the staging area now!"

"Why don't we just hit the arena together? It's good training. What is the point of risking your life? Better to risk your life if it's going to get some bits!"

"That's it! You'll be reported to the captain! You'll be lucky if he just docks your pay!" The soldier threatened "remember that you can be replaced anytime and anywhere you filthy sellsword!" And stormed off

"Don't worry then, I won't forget." The colt chuckled "work is work, but I don't like fighting fillies or mares... I wonder what the rest of the day's like for me?" And flipped a bit. "Tails huh? My life just gets bad luck every single day..."

"You know, the soldiers may not want to hear what I have to say but... I have to speak with one of the Crystalis soldiers. Will one of them ever listen to my words? Grant me strength Celestia!" Dinky prayed

Pipsqueak made his way through the enemies as the team advanced. Derpy took time to visit a house meeting a white unicorn with stylish hair.

"Why hello. Did you come here to see me dance?" The unicorn asked "I'm dreadfully sorry to say that I finished a moment ago. However, I think you'll be interested in one of these items. There was a wealthy pony who gave me a small ransom in gifts after seeing my performance. You can sell it or use it to improve your skills, it's very useful. Please take one, I simply cannot carry all of them by myself." And gave a Dragonshield to Derpy "wealth is useless if you can't use it to bring happiness to others don't you think? Generosity is better than keeping it all to yourself. Thanks for dropping by, I'm sure we'll meet again." She added as Derpy left.

Seeing the Solarian/Lunatan party protecting the Crystalis cleric, the enemies started to advance. Archers fired on Pipsqueak hitting him neatly as he tried to counter back with his javelin.

"Hey look!" Applebloom pointed out "there's a vendor over there!"

"A vendor?" Twilight asked "what's that?"

"A vendor" Flash lectured from the convoy where it shelters him, Cloudchaser, Flitter and Big Mac. "Is like an armory. But it doesn't sell weapons, it sells spellbooks, staves and other items like vulneraries."

"I see" Twilight asked "and what about that big round building opposite it?"

"Ah. That is an arena milady. Anypony wagers a sum of bits to pitch a fight against somepony in the arena. Win and you get twice of what you wagered. Lose and you lose your life. However, you can choose to concede and if you do, you lose the bits you bet but you can still live to fight. So be careful when in the arena."

"Ok, thanks for the information Flash." Twilight thanked noting that some brigands decide to pillage the town.

Applejack was immediately on the scene against the brigands and she went to help. Colgate and Applebloom ganged up on a soldier and Twinkleshine and Bonbon caught up to Pipsqueak and eliminated the two archers.

Another soldier charged towards Applebloom but received the worst from her. One of the fighters in the outer wall advanced at Pipsqueak with no avail as Twilight critically countered a missed swing from a brigand. The other brigand turned his attention towards Twilight, bad mistake. The silly brigand, wounded by Applejack, yielded his life against Twilight's sword.

"Hang on..." Dinky piped up "that colt over there..." She pointed at the brown colt myrmidon. "I think I've seen him before, he was really nice too. Maybe he'll listen?"

"Okay then" Twilight nodded "we'll get him to you but be careful. He can still attack."

After a few damages against enemies and killing them, it was the enemy's turn.

The still alive brigand made a jump on Applebloom but she saw that coming and dodged some serious damage. With a true counter-attack, she split the brigand in two, but it doesn't end there. Two more enemies ganged up on her leaving her wounded. A fighter went against Twilight but she was too fast for his axe.

Applebloom decided to swing from afar to kill the fighter and let Dinky heal her wounds. Applejack had an easy picking with the archer close up but missed the finishing hit.

"Dag nabit!" Applejack cursed so Colgate decided to help. After defeating the archer, she went to cheer up Applejack.

"It's ok. Just unlucky."

"Ah think Ah'm losin mah touch!" Applejack feared. Dinky and Bonbon did their healing jobs on Applebloom and Pipsqueak respectively. While Pipsqueak charged ahead, the main party was getting ready to help Dinky out to talk to the myrmidon by clearing out any other enemies.

An enemy struck Applejack bringing her close to serious injury. With the chance, Applejack countered the enemy and since she was faster, killed the fighter in two hits. The mercenary that was hit by Pipsqueak got mad and charged with a missed hit. Pipsqueak had the honours to end the mercenary's miserable life.

"Here goes nothing" Twilight prayed as she lured out the myrmidon. Dinky helped Applejack's wounds as Pipsqueak continued charging and killing.

The soldier managed to get a hit on Pipsqueak but was taken out by two sword slashes. The myrmidon advanced towards Twilight and dished out serious damage but she was still standing. Her blessings and hopes got dashed when two new brigands entered to pillage the town.

Knowing that Twilight wouldn't hold much longer, Dinky immediately ran to the myrmidon.

"Hey! Aren't you the colt I bumped into?" Dinky asked as the colt turned his attention to her instead of the princess. "You've been hired to capture and kill me right?"

"Yep." The colt nodded "Crystalis is paying the bill and they want you dead. It's not personal to me so don't feel bad." He positioned his sword, ready to strike her down.

"Wait!" Dinky pleaded "please, I don't care whatever happens to me, but please listen to my words. The ruler of Crystalis has changed, he's not the stallion he used to be. The other nations need to be warned before he blows out the light from all our lands."

"No offence, but I'm a mercenary." The colt apologised "I don't really care about Crystalis or it's ruler. Whatever you say, be it the truth or a lie, I still don't care."

"But that's..." Dinky protested

"However... Killing fillies or mares like you would make me feel bad. Really bad." Button assured "tell me. Would you like to play a game? My parents played it when they were young." And pulled out a game machine and turned it on, a game of pong.

"What is this!?" Dinky asked in disgust.

"Playing games against other ponies is what I live for. Even when I lose, I still continue to play. Here's the deal. You win this game, I'll believe you. Ready?" The colt assured

"You can't... This is no time for games."

"Or do you want me to carry out the job I was hired for?" He asked pulling out his sword "because I'll still do it, even if it's a lose-lose situation for the both of us."

"O-okay then." Dinky agreed and placed a hoof on one of the joysticks.

"Let's start!" the colt exclaimed and pushed his joystick down. The pixel ball bounced towards Dinky's side and in a frantic, she too pushed down the joystick and the ball was reflected off the wall. The colt however, didn't move his wall back to reflect the ball and it sailed pass. The screen came up saying that Dinky wins.

"W-well?" Dinky asked, unbearable to hear the result.

"Heh heh! It looks like you won! To be honest, I still don't get this game." The colt chuckled "but it was a gift from my parents so I've been treasuring this machine ever since."

"Um..." Dinky still didn't understand

"Well guess what? I've haven't been winning anything all day. Well, now that the console has spoken, I'll be joining you and whatever ally you've made."

"Are you serious?" Dinky shouted in relief

"Well of course! I may like to cheat sometimes, but we play a game and if I lose, I lose. That's a rule of mine. Of course now that you have me, you may want to save your progress. If you had to restart the game, we'd be playing this again and this time, I would win!" The colt chuckled

"Oh thank the heavens!" Dinky praised "I'll be sure to um... Save my progress too."

"I've got nothing against heaven, but if you want someone to thank, I'm right here." The colt noted "no thanks? Okay then, stay behind me while I take care of these fools." And he pulled his sword out and went for the brigands.

As Pipsqueak visited a home, he saw a pegasus filly getting prepared to go out.

"Hope everyone's well and back home." The filly talked to herself "just a bit more, an I'll be in the empire. Now I've got my vulneraries, antitoxins and definitely not to forget the torches for when it goes dark! Great! That's everything. Now I need to head for the capital. I'll be the finest soldier that Crystalis have ever seen! I'll swear it on my wings!" And she trotted off leaving the house. Meanwhile, Pipsqueak found something left behind by the soldier, torches.

True to his word, the colt critically finished off a brigand that charged at him with superior sword skills and his Killing Edge and did the same unto the other brigand. Applejack finished off a soldier unscathed.

Colgate bought a heal for Dinky so her mend can be used later on. Derpy went to visit another house where a ponyfolk told her about  life being hard as Crystalis took over. Although there are Solarian residents in Seramany, it was very hard on the Crystalis citizens. How Crystalis singled out Solarian families for the most awful atrocities. The villager couldn't take this anymore and gave Derpy a special sword that can cut through the toughest armor, the Armourslayer. Parting with a favour to cut down the border guard captain, Derpy left dropping the Dragonshield in the convoy. The enemy did nothing but a few new brigands popped up behind the captain.

The brown colt went to the arena again. Betting 720 bits, he went up against a mage. Having dodged the first fireball, he managed to take his enemy down after the second fireball hit him. With a few suffered wounds, he walked out alive with 1440 bits in tow. As Dinky took care of his wounds, the entire party waited.

Only the brigands started moving and the soldier went to kill Applebloom with nothing as she dodged his stab. The soldier was struck down after and receiving two dangerous swings from Applebloom's hatchet.

Twilight visited an old stallion who was an ex-knight. Having crossed with one of Crystalis' famous generals. He was worried that he may not be able to pass his techniques down. So he wrote them all in a book and gave the secret book to Twilight to honour him. The apple sisters teamed up on a brigand and everyone got ready to take out the captain.

The brigand ignored Applebloom and went straight for Colgate. The brigand missed his target and took the worst of the light priestess' lightning.

"Seriously." Colgate wondered "these soldiers can take over my country and yet when they're against us, they suck?"

Applebloom finished off the last brigand leaving the knight captain left.

"Enemy of the empire!" The captain taunted "death's too good for you!" As Twinkleshine prepared a few fireballs.

"Silly knight. Using brawns for brains. A pitiful existence." Twinkleshine sighed as she tossed an accurate fireball at him. However, the knight threw his javelin, critically wounding her.

"Twinkleshine!" Colgate cried at the pain of her companion

"I got her!" Derpy comforted as she picked Twinkleshine up and carried her to safety. Applejack tried her luck against the captain and managed to land blows without getting hit.

"I'll finish this!" The colt assured. Equipping the armourslayer, he went to confront the captain.

"What? You filthy sellsword! You betray the nation that hired you?" The captain growled at the betrayal

"Yeah." The colt replied "I've found a better job. So goodbye!" And with one swift slash, split the captain's armor in two. His vitals also split in the process.

"Prince... Blueblood... Glory to His... majesty..." The captain loyally praised before he fell to the floor slain. Twilight nodded at the new colt in their ranks and raised her rapier in the air. Seramany was free from Crystalis forces and the battle was won for Solaria and Lunata.

"That was a tight spot." Twilight noted after things had calmed down.

"Yes, yes it was..." Dinky agreed "thank you very much. I really don't know how to repay--"

"You're from Crystalis are you not?" Flash interrupted

"Yes... As you already know my name, I was a servant of the people at Crystalis' imperial temple."

"Then why the trouble with the soldiers?" Twilight asked "what's your story?"

"Of course..." Dinky took a deep breath and started "a few days ago, my mentor was arrested without warning. They executed him and said he was a traitor... Turns out they were false accusations." She started to get angry clutching her mend with tears coming out of her eyes. "My ruler had him killed... a holy man!... To keep him silent."

"Keep him silent?" Flash asked

"Yes. My mentor told me with his final breath..." Dinky explained carefully "the emperor plans to destroy the Sacred Stones."

"Destroy them?" Twilight exclaimed with shock "the Sacred Stones?"

"You know that the Sacred Stones are what drove the power of evil back long ago. Now our nations is home to one of these legendary treasures. One in my homeland of Crystalis and one in Solaria, your homeland."

"That's right. The Sacred Stone of Solaria is still housed under our royal temple." Twilight nodded at that fact. Flash however, had a look which shows that he was hiding something.

"The ruler plans to destroy the Sacred Stones. One by one..." Dinky continued

"Why would he plan to do such a thing?" Flash asked "from legends, they are the only thing that keeps evil at bay!"

"I don't know his motives, and I can't even guess..." Dinky answered "you know, our ruler was a gentleman. But he utterly changed one day. Before my mentor died, he said that the keepers of the Sacred Stones must be warned. I tried to slip across the border, but the soldiers spotted me."

"So that's what happened." Twilight took it all in. "What do you think Flashy?"

"Flash" He strictly corrected "we can't trust anyone in Crystalis. Not in these times and not without proof. But if what she says is true, then we cannot ignore the danger we face. Destroying the Sacred Stones is a crime that we can not allow to happen."

"I agree" Twilight nodded "If there was some reason for Prince Blueblood's actions that we knew of. I tell you, her story freaks me totally out. I hope that it's not true."

"A moment please" a citizen beckoned "are you perchance... Princess Twilight?"

"I am." Twilight replied

"Thank goodness you're safe!" The citizen praised "I can't tell you how happy I am. And please accept my gratitude for driving away that captain. He treated all the citizens of Solaria with such contempt and brutality...

"Not here..." Twilight sternly spoke "not in this city. My BBBFF and I spent such happy times here with Sunset..."

"I beg your pardon, but Crystalis will send more troops here. You need to go quickly."

"I'm really sorry that I can't do anything for you. Please forgive me."

"Do not be troubled Princess Twilight." The citizen comforted "we will survive and wait for the days of liberation to come. I know a day will come when you, Captain Shining and Solaria will all rise up. Until that day comes, we will wait unbowed and filled with hope. Take this as thanks." And the citizen gave Twilight a Guiding Ring.

"By the way." As Twilight and crew were leaving, she directed her attention to the brown colt than joined him "I really like your propeller hat. What's your name?"

"My name is Button Mash!" He replied "nice to meet you princess! Although I was hired by Crystalis, I'm actually from Mayronyl!"

"So I can assume that you are not a Crystalis soldier. Duly noted." Flash noted

"Also" Twilight pulled out the Guiding Ring in front of Flash "what's this?"

"This milady, is a Guiding Ring. This is one of the special promotion items that I talked to you about before." Flash explained "these things are rare and if there is a chance they are found in stores, they are dreadfully expensive."

"When you said that there were different ones, what do you mean?" Twilight asked

"Different promotion items for different units." Flash replied "a Guiding Ring promotes any unit who uses magic. Of course, special case soldiers like Applebloom the Journeymare can be instantly promoted into the primary class."

"Hey!" Applebloom cried "what's happening to me?"

"Applebloom!" Applejack yelled "yer body's glowing white!"

"Ah." Flash explained "don't worry Applejack. Your younger sister has reached enough experience that she can be able to change class. She will get more power."

"Really?" Applebloom exclaimed "sweet!"

"Choose wisely young Applebloom" Twinkleshine warned "from what I've read, you can choose between two fighting styles. A Fighter or a Pirate. You can only choose one."

"Come on Applebloom!" Applejack encouraged "be a Fighter like yer sister."

"I...I... I want to be... I want to be!" She decided as a brilliant ball of light enveloped her and exploded. As the light settled, Applebloom no longer looked like a Journeymare. She was wearing female pirate garb and her ribbon was tied as a bandana. She no longer had a small axe, it was replaced with two identical bigger axes.

"A pirate huh? Good choice." Flash complimented despite Applejack looking disappointed.

"Don't worry." Twinkleshine cheered "she can traverse water terrains."

"That is what ah'm worried about." Applejack said "she can get far away from the group."

"Relax big sis!" Applebloom cheered "ah can take care of mahself!" She took a moment to check her rump "aww nuts!!! I still don't have mah cutie mark!"

"In due time Applebloom. In due time." Flash comforted

"No fair! How come she gets to be a pirate when I can't?" Pipsqueak complained

"because you are a knight Pipsqueak." Flash explained "pirates are part of the sturdy infantrymare tree. You however, are part of the armoured lancemare tree. Myself included."

"Aww..." Pipsqueak sighed.