Rise of Shadow

Chapters

Part 1: The Fall of Equestria
Part 2: The Dawn of War
Part 3: The Battle of Los Pegasus
Part 4: Rescue Beneath the Ice
Part 5: The Calm Before the Storm
Part 7: Aftermath
Part 6: Harmony Rising

Part 1: The Fall of Equestria

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: The Rise of Shadow

Prologue
Freedom! So close now that he could taste it, that foolish Celestia and her dark sister surely hadn’t thought that the elements magic could hold him forever! Sure he had been imprisoned for almost two thousand years but that had also given him two millennia to work out how to resist the elements power, two thousand years of watching and planning. He had seen Celestia pass the elements to those foolish little fillies, seen the fall of Nightmare Moon, Discord and Chrysalis. But their mistakes had taught him and he had learned well and he would not be stopped, he had a plan and he would destroy Celestia. Equestria would be his.

Chapter One: The Princesses Worst Fear
In the royal city of Canterlot Princess Celestia was teaching her pupils at the royal academy when she heard her sister land on the balcony behind her.

“Luna, why are you awake?” she asked confused, Luna was only ever supposed to be awake during the night.

“I felt her sister,” said Luna grimly looking anxiously at the young ponies who were looking at the two sisters with profound interest. Celestia quickly turned telling them she would return in a moment and then followed Luna outside the classroom.

“You felt Nightmare Moon?” she asked growing very concerned

“Yes.”

“But she was destroyed wasn’t she? By Twilight and her friends?”

“So we thought but then she returned to me.”

“When?”

“The first time was when Discord escaped and then there was just now.”

“I don’t understand…” Celestia said shaking her head.

“I think I do,” Luna replied.

“I think she only returns if there is a great evil threatening Equestria.”

“But all the great threats are beaten back; Nightmare Moon locked away, Discord turned to stone.” But then Celestia’s eyes widened with fear as she realised the one threat she had not listed.

“Luna, get to Shining Armour and have him prepare the guard.”

“Why? What is it?”

“Luna, it’s Him.”

“Sweet Celestia save us all.” Luna whispered fear spreading across her own face.

“I’m trying to! Once you get to Shining Armour head to the Agents and tell them to find Twilight and her friends and protect them at all costs.”

“I shall.” said Luna her wings flapping erratically as she tried to fly away while still controlled by fear. Once she was no more than a speck above the city Celestia turned and walked back into the classroom working hard to keep an air of calm so she would not frighten her students. She reached her desk, found a quill and some paper and began to write. To my dearest and most faithful student Twilight Sparkle…

Chapter Two: That First Kiss

“Go on Fluttershy, it’s your turn!” Said Pinkie Pie with that constant laugh that was always in her voice.

“I, uhhmm… uhm… pass.” Squeaked Fluttershy her eyes looking anywhere but at her friends.

Pinkie nodded. “Okie Dokie Lokie then, Twilight what about you?”

Twilight Sparkle ruffled her purple fur and smiled “Well, it’s a bit of a long story…” She said carefully

“So?” said Rainbow Dash “You’re the last one of us who still has to tell a first kiss story.”

“Okay, okay.” Laughed Twilight “Back when I was in Canterlot at the royal academy there was one stallion everypony liked. He and his friends were my age but they seemed that bit older, they wanted to join the royal guard you see.”

“What was his name?” asked Applejack

“His name was Scotty,” replied Twilight dreamily “One day Canterlot was attacked by a zebra army. Me and some others ended up trapped with Scotty and his friends Ratty and Sparky. We tried to reach the palace but we couldn’t cross the courtyard without being spotted. Scotty and his friends went into the courtyard to distract them for us but before he left Scotty walked right up to me, told me he loved me and kissed me…” Twilight’s eyes glazed over as she remembered that day.

“Wow…” said Rarity.

“What happened to him?” asked Fluttershy

“He… well they don’t know for sure but he was never found after the battle.” Tears began to roll silently down Twilight’s cheeks and Rarity shot forward to embrace her.

“I think that’s enough for today.” Said Rainbow Dash tactfully standing and ruffling feeling back into her wings, the others all nodded and one by one said their goodbyes and left leaving Twilight sitting with Spike in her library. When they had all gone Spike got up and laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry Twilight.” He said choosing his words carefully as Twilight was delicate when upset.

She gave him a half smile. “He isn’t dead Spike,” she said after a while “He can’t be.”

“How do you know?”

“I just… do.” The long silence that followed was suddenly broken by a belching sound from Spike who deftly plucked the scroll from mid air and opened it. He read it fast and his eyes widened in shock, horror and fear. “Twilight…” he near whispered holding out the scroll. “You might want to read this.”

Chapter Three: The Agents

“And with this I can tell you that you are in the gravest danger and that I am sending you my two most trusted agents to protect you until we can be sure that this threat has been quelled.” Twilight rolled up the scroll and looked out over her friends solemnly.

“Does the Princess think we can’t handle ourselves?” asked Rainbow Dash seeming more angry than worried.

“No, she never writes to me like this.” Said Twilight “Whatever this is it has her worried as well, she just wants to make sure we’re safe.”

“So when do these agents arrive?” Asked Rarity.

“According to this they are taking the morning express which means they should be here in about ten minutes.” Answered Spike who was looking at a second scroll that had just come through.

“Then we mustn’t go wastin’ any time.” Exclaimed Applejack heading for the door, causing the others to follow suit.

When the morning express pulled in to the Ponyville station the sky had become grey and overcast and the rhythmic pitter patter of rain bouncing of the shelter marked the beginning of a storm. Twilight was the only pony stood out on the platform not caring about the rain, the evil that even scared Princess Celestia was likely coming for her and her friends and she was ready to show that she was strong and ready for it. The doors opened on the carriages allowing the trains occupants a mad dash for the shelter of the station. Twilight became aware of her friends gathering behind her as she saw two ponies, one a pegasus the other a unicorn, step off of the train and make a beeline through the dashing crowd for them. It took Twilight a moment before they became clearer through the rain and when they did she stood rooted to the spot for a moment before darting forward towards them. Just as she reached them she raised her right foreleg and smacked one of them around the face, he looked at the other one and then back at Twilight before saying “What did I do to deserve that?”

Twilight then pulled him into a choking hug before replying “You let me think you were dead for five years!”

At this he laughed, shrugged a pair of strong shoulders and said “Fair enough.” Twilight made a small whimpering sound at the back of her throat before hugging him again.

“Did I miss something?” Asked Rarity confused, it was Spike who answered her.

“It has been a long time since I have seen him.”

“Who is he?”

“That’s Scotty.”

Chapter Four: The Explanation

In that few minutes on the train station platform Twilight had nearly fainted from the wave of emotions that raced around her body like flames – relief, resentment, anger and the only one she was feeling now above all the others love. Scotty and Ratty were now standing in the centre of the library with huge grins on their faces, after a while Ratty ruffled in the pocket of his cloak and brought out a small gold bit and tossed it to Scotty who caught it expertly with his wing.

“What’s that for?” asked Twilight confused.

“We had a bet,” Scotty explained “On where you would be living, I bet a library.”

“What did Ratty bet?”

“A laboratory.” Said the blue unicorn smiling. This brought laughter from everyone in the library who were all sitting around the fire attempting to warm up.

“So,” Twilight began. “You’re alive.”

“Well noticed.” Said Scotty as he sat down beside the fire and sighed as the heat washed over him.

“How?”

“Long story.”

“We’re not going anywhere.” Twilight pointed out, gesturing to the window through which could be seen sheets of rain that might as well have been going sideways. Then just to make her point she sat down.

Scotty sighed and tapped his hoof on the ground a few times before he began. “When the zebras attacked we knew we had to get you and the others to safety so we contacted the princess and told her we were on our way to the palace, she agreed and told us to be careful. We were, but there was still no way we would have all escaped. So we sent you off and moved to hold off the zebras there. We held them off long enough for your brother and the rest of the guard to arrest them. After that Celestia came to us and offered us a job.” Scotty paused here.

“What was the job?” asked Rainbow Dash who was sitting on top of a bookcase near to the fire.

“Working as the first strike team for the Equestria Secret Service.” Scotty replied.

“You’re joking!” Exclaimed Twilight leaning forward.

“No that’s completely true.” Replied Ratty.

“Anyway we spent about a year in training, then three serving on the front lines of the war in Saddle Arabia, and then we have been on missions all around Equestria for about a year now.” Said Scotty.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were still alive?” Twilight asked him.

“Believe me Twi, I would have wanted nothing more but we were not allowed because of our jobs.”

Twilight nodded at this before her brow furrowed and she said. “Wait, there’s only you two here, where’s Sparky?”

Scotty and Ratty exchanged glances before their faces became pictures of sadness. “He never made it out that courtyard. Zebras grabbed him.” Scotty stopped and turned to the window. “No-pony has seen him since.” Twilight nodded sadly, Sparky had been her friend too. Spike yawned loudly breaking the silence. The day was fading fast but the storm was showing no signs of stopping.

Twilight stood up. “Spike, bring up blankets and pillows for everypony!” She said. “No-pony is going anywhere in that storm, so you’ll all be staying here.”

Chapter Five: Shadow

The first screams to echo through Ponyville woke Scotty and Ratty who rolled to their feet and into defensive stances, a manoeuvre they had practised hundreds of times and had got down to a fine art. Once they were satisfied that there were no immediate threats nearby they quickly roused the others. Once they were all woken Twilight opened her mouth to ask what was going on when a scream split the silence. As one they all moved to the window in time to see Derpy Hooves and Time Turner running past with three Zebras chasing them dressed in black armour.

“Zebras,” Scotty spat angrily. “Every time its zebras.”

“What do we do?” asked Pinkie backing away.

“We don’t panic.” Replied Ratty his face grim. At his point Rarity decided to panic and run screaming into the night. Scotty looked at Ratty and some unspoken communication passed between the pair before Scotty spoke up.

“Alright, everypony stick together and we’ll go out, find Rarity and come back here, we are doing nothing else. Got it?” Once everyone had agreed they grouped together and left the library.

Almost as soon as they stepped into the rain they were attacked by two zebras. Not that the zebras got very far, Ratty tripped one and sent it tumbling into Scotty’s hind legs which he fired off in a vicious two footed kick that dented its armour and knocked it unconscious. The second one then met one of Scotty’s hooves which he brought up in a quickly executed spin kick that sent the zebra sprawling in the mud. They ran on after this, with the agents protecting them from attacks until they reached the square in front of Rarity’s shop where they all stopped and stared in horror. Fire was passing along the rows of houses and ponies were running around in fear as the black armoured zebras ruthlessly hunted them down. But by far the most horrific thing was Rarity, held upside down in obvious agony with a black magic aura surrounding her. The ponies all ran to her when suddenly a hideous hissing whisper filled their minds making them stop and clutch their heads.

“So,” The voice said. “This is Celestia’s secret weapon. Six fillies and two overly ambitious colts. Well, I am disappointed.”

Scotty fought his way to his hooves and yelled at the air. “Show yourself!”

“You asked.” Said the voice. With that there was an ear splitting crash and suddenly a huge black and navy blue pony stood bellow Rarity in the centre of the square. He had two horns sprouting from his head and his unicorn horn was raggedly broken, he also had a pair of dragon like wings and red lizard like eyes.

“Who are you?” Asked Scotty above the roar of the wind.

“I’m Shadow, my dear Agent Scotty and I am the worst thing you shall ever face in your, from here on short, lives!”

“Let Rarity go!” Yelled Twilight standing strong at Scotty’s side.

“You asked.” Shadow said again and threw Rarity through the doors of Carousel Boutique with a sickening crash.
“Rarity!” Yelled Applejack running after her, the others following, leaving Scotty, Ratty and Twilight standing facing Shadow.

“Give up Shadow!” Yelled Ratty.

“Three on one! That’s not fair!” Whined Shadow putting on a fake pout before smiling.

“Not that I need it but I’m gonna bring in some help anyway. I mean my little team is just dying to meet you again Agents.” With this two new ponies stepped out of the shadows. One was a zebra with red eyes and an ugly scar running down his face and the other was a dark green unicorn with golden eyes and a black mane with red streaks through it.

“White Stripe.” Scotty said as if he had been expecting it addressing the zebra.

“What’s the matter Scotty? Nothing to say to me?” Asked the unicorn. At the sound of his voice all three ponies froze and looked at him.

“Sparky?” Scotty asked aghast.

“It’s Dark Spark now thank you.” Said Dark Spark.

“OK family reunion time over.” Interrupted Shadow “But I’m afraid it really it is time for you all to die.”

“You shall be doing no such thing, Shadow!” Yelled a commanding voice from behind them. The group turned and saw Princesses Celestia and Luna walking up behind them dressed in armour.
“Ah, yes I was wondering when our great rulers would be joining us.” Said Shadow nodding.

“Twilight, my student,” Said Celestia. “You have done well but we can handle things from here, go and help your friends.” Twilight nodded and ran to the shop to help Rarity.

“It’s over Shadow!” Yelled Luna from her sister’s side.

“Luna my dear, it is far from over. You really shouldn’t have come here tonight.” Then he took a step forward, lowered his head and a spear of black magic shot from his broken horn and struck Luna straight in her chest. She cried out but before anyone could do anything she was lost behind a veil of blackness. Meanwhile White Stripe and Dark Spark charged at the agents and Celestia lowered her head and fired her own spell at Shadow which he nimbly dodged. Ratty was quickly overwhelmed by Dark Spark who kicked him and sent him spinning through the doors of the burning town hall. Scotty then beat back the zebra and his former friend before turning in time to see Celestia get struck by a bolt of blue magic and be sent sprawling. The black veil surrounding Luna dissipated, only it wasn’t Luna who was standing over Celestia.

“Hello again, Sister.” Said Nightmare Moon. Shadow smiled and ordered Nightmare Moon to take her sister away before he turned to Carousel Boutique and Twilight and her friends. He gave them a menacing grin before his horn glowed again making a black aura surround the shop, which promptly collapsed on top of the six friends.

“NO!!” Yelled Scotty as he was struck by a wave of black magic and flung backwards through a house. As he lay in the street with his wing bent at an impossible angle, he saw zebras round up the citizens of Ponyville and take them away and Celestia being unceremoniously dragged into a black chariot which then took off into the night. He saw flames spread all around the town and burn it slowly to the ground. He lay there for nearly an hour before, mercifully, darkness covered his vision.

Part 2: The Dawn of War

Chapter Six: Ashes

Scotty awoke slowly, certain elements of his surroundings appearing faster than the others; he saw a picture on the wall, a bandage wrapped around his wing and Ratty standing at his side watching him concernedly. Eventually, after what seemed like an age, he sat up. Ratty smiled at him but his face was grim.

“How long was I out?” Scotty asked him.

“Three days.” He replied helping Scotty to his feet.

“What happened in Ponyville?”

“Once Shadow left with Celestia we attempted to follow him but we lost him.”

“We?”

“It’ll take more than a building to stop us.” Laughed Rainbow Dash as she fluttered into the room, followed by Pinkie and Fluttershy who were carrying Rarity between them, Rarity had her left foreleg in a sling. Behind them came Twilight who, when she saw Scotty, broke into a huge grin and ran to him, wrapped her legs around his neck and held him in a close hug. He hugged her back and laughed.

Rarity turned to Ratty and spoke. “Applejack just came back, she didn’t find much food but it’s enough.”
Ratty nodded and turned to Scotty. “Come on then, lets get you fed and we’ll tell you what’s been going on since you got knocked out.” Once breakfast was eaten the group quickly filled Scotty in about recent events. They were in one of the Secret Service’s emergency bunkers in Ponyville. The entire town had been burnt to the ground and the townsfolk rounded up and taken away. Then Shadow had gone to Canterlot and had quickly defeated the guard there before claiming the throne. Princess Celestia had still not been tracked down and only Shadow’s group of leaders: White Stripe the zebra general, Dark Spark and Nightmare Moon knew where to find her.

“So,” Said Scotty finally after their story was finished. “We need the Elements of Harmony to stop Shadow, but they’re sealed away in a vault which only Celestia can open. This means we have to capture and interrogate one of Shadow’s lieutenants, rescue the princess and save all of Equestria.”

“Yeah…” Said Rainbow looking slightly unconfident.

“Walk in the park.” Said Scotty smiling.

“Who are we going to capture?” Asked Applejack as she chewed an apple.

“You guys say that Shadow keeps Nightmare Moon and Dark Spark close so that leaves only White Stripe.”

“Who is now ruler of Los Pegasus.” Pinkie pointed out.

“Only makes things a little bit more complicated.” Said Scotty.

“This is all very well and good but, well two things,” Said Ratty shaking his head. “Firstly, there are two ponies here with crippling wounds.”
“They’ll heal.” Said Rarity shrugging her shoulders.

“Secondly, there are only two ponies here with any real combat experience. No offense.”

“None taken.” Muttered Rainbow as she folded her legs across her chest.

“Also not a problem.” Said Scotty standing up and walking to a button on the wall.

“How do you plan to make these girls into ponies capable of taking on an army of zebras?” Asked Ratty.

“This is one of our bunkers.” Scotty pointed out as he pressed the button causing part of the wall to open, revealing a vast space filled with target ranges, flying courses, obstacle courses and training dummies. “We simply train them.”

Chapter Seven: Gadgets

Over the next week the group trained without stopping and by the end of it all even Ratty agreed that the six girls had trained themselves up to a level worthy of agents. Fluttershy had come to a par with the average speed of an agent through the flight courses. Rainbow had of course, smashed right through the current record, held by Scotty. Both Twilight and Rarity could move through the target range in a matter of seconds and still have a 97% accuracy rate on their spells. Pinkie had never been caught out once by the constantly changing obstacle course and Applejack had made Scotty and Ratty stitch and restitch every one of the training dummies every time she kicked them. On day six however Scotty stopped them all early.
“Well done,” he said grinning as Ratty flipped him yet another gold bit. “You have all mastered your own fields of expertise, but being an agent isn’t about being the best at what you are already good at but also what you have no skills in at all.” He looked down at six very confused faces before continuing. “For example, Ratty here is going to now perform the flight course.” This caused even more confusion, how was this possible? Ratty was a unicorn, he had no wings to fly with. Ratty grinned and tapped his right foreleg of the ground three times, in response to this, blue flames shot from the bottom of the armoured boots he was wearing and he hovered off the ground. Then the boots fired off more flames and he shot off around the flight course with ease. Meanwhile Scotty carried on talking. “Flight boots for all non-pegasus agents, tap three times to activate them and then control them with your mind, think left and you will move left.” He produced four sets of boots and placed them in front of the group. Then he raised his head, looked straight at one of the target dummies and a blue magic bolt darted from a necklace he wore with a blue gem stored within. The bolt struck the dummy and it fell backwards, bolts of blue lightning darting around its body. “Magic storing necklace of all non-unicorn agents, control it with your mind and it will do your bidding, think fire and it’ll fire.” He laid four such necklaces next to the boots. “These are yours now. Use them well.” With this Ratty landed gracefully next to him and the six girls stepped forward, collected their gadgets and began training again.

Chapter Eight: Dark Spark

Sparky hated himself; he had hurt and quite possibly killed his best friends and had been instrumental in the fall of Equestria. But that wasn’t him, he wasn’t Dark Spark; mindless evil thrall of Shadow. He was Sparky; student of Celestia and saviour of Canterlot. Just as the dark pony before him wasn’t Nightmare Moon, she was Luna; princess of Equestria and Mare of the night. It was Shadow’s magic that had done this to them, that had corrupted and tainted them. But they couldn’t fight it, couldn’t beat it, could they?

Chapter Nine: To Los Pegasus

It took yet another full week for the group to master using the gadgets to a level the agents were satisfied with. Once they were satisfied however things began to move suddenly faster. They packed food, camping gear and armour into saddlebags which they then slung over their bodies and then they opened the hatch that served as the entrance to the bunker and set off south westwards towards Los Pegasus. This was a two day journey by train but the group was on foot and was taking a less risky route than following the railway so it was likely to take closer to a week. The route they were following took them to the edge of Ghastly Gorge to the south and then westwards along the edge of the San Palomino Desert until they reached Applewood and Los Pegasus. They marched in a closely bunched group, having to hide from zebra patrols and avoid the dark creatures that lived upon the road ahead. They marched through rain and wind, snow and sun. When they finally came upon the rise that overlooked their destination there were no sighs of relief, no celebrations that their journey was at last over because they all knew that the real adventure was only just beginning.

Chapter Ten: City of Friends and Enemies

“We will head for the nearest safehouse in the city.” Scotty told the group as the entered the city. “I have arranged for the Los Pegasus division of agents to meet us there.” It took the group almost two hours to reach the safe house due to the fact they had to avoid being spotted and with someone with hair like Rainbow Dash in your group this is not an easily achieved feat. When they eventually got to the door of the house they all breathed a sigh of relief at simply being safe, for now at least. Scotty knocked on the door in a peculiar rhythm and it swung open revealing an exhausted looking pegasus. He had and orange body with a spiky brown mane that was streaked with blue. His eyes were dark blue and his ears came to a sharp point. He wore a creased blue business suit and a magic storing necklace.

“You took your time.” He said in an accent that would have been Scottish if he was on earth.

“Can’t be too careful when every zebra in Equestria is looking for you.” Scotty replied quickly.

The pegasus nodded and took a step back. “Well don’t just stand there, come in.” He said warmly. Scotty nodded his thanks and the group trooped into the house.

“Jocky McJock,” said Scotty to the pegasus. “Meet Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy. Wielders of the Elements of Harmony and multiple time saviours of Equestria.”

Jocky nodded to them all and said. “A pleasure.” Then. “Come through, do, Fii is just preparing dinner.”

“Oh, Fii’s here?” Asked Ratty coming forward and falling into step with Jocky.

Meanwhile back with Twilight and the others Scotty muttered. “There is no way I am doing that introduction again.” The group entered a large kitchen with a green unicorn in it working at a baking oven. She turned, grinned at them and pulled Scotty into a crushing hug. Twilight took an instant dislike to her. She had choppy cut sandy brown hair with red streaks, violet eyes, a pale nose, and three freckles beneath her eyes. Luckily Scotty’s wish came true as Ratty took over the introductions this time revealing the unicorn’s name as Filly Fii.

“Pleased to meet you all.” Said Fii kindly. “But come, you must be hungry, let’s eat and then talk about your business here.”

They ate in silence and when they were all finished Jocky sat forward. “Now, I assume you’re here to deal with White Stripe.”

“We need him to give us the location at which they are holding Princess Celestia.” Replied Scotty.

Jocky nodded. “Well you are going to have some difficulty getting to him. He is holed up at the top of the skyscraper in the centre of town.”

“Is there a way of getting to him?”

“Not easily, and it won’t work for all of you.”

“Then we won’t all go just me and Ratty.”

“Okay then, in that case I have a plan.” Jocky smiled.

Chapter Eleven: Lord of the Zebras

The next day Scotty, Ratty and Jocky walked through the centre of town to the grand glass skyscraper in which White Stripe was to be found. The trio were dressed in business suits and sunglasses. They walked up to the zebra that was serving as the security guard in the lobby and showed him IDs which had been lovingly hoofmade by Fii the night before. After a moment he nodded and waved them through to the lift which was laying waiting for them with two zebra guards inside of it. They got in and the doors closed and the lift began to climb. When it reached its destination the three agents left it with Scotty fixing his tie, leaving two unconscious security guards inside. They reached two big double doors which opened automatically and allowed them to enter a large office. Two guards stood either side of the door and there, sat behind the desk in the centre of the room was White Stripe. The group entered and pulled off their sunglasses. White Stripe’s eyes widened in shock as he recognised the three ponies now stood in the centre of the office. The agents didn’t miss a beat, Jocky and Ratty launched into two hoofed spin kicks that instantly knocked out the two guards and Scotty launched a blast of energy from the necklace he wore that struck White Stripe and sent him sprawling. Scotty flapped his wings twice and landed on the zebra lord with a two hoofed kick that knocked the wind from him. Then the agent picked up the zebra and threw him through a glass wall, before charging him again, he punched him again and again and then yelled into his face.

“Where are you holding Celestia?”

White Stripe shook his head so Scotty hit him again. “Okay, Okay!” Spat the zebra. “She is in the Chill, the inescapable prison in the ice fields.”

“Thank you.” Said Scotty and punched him again, knocking him out.

“Scotty! We have a problem!” Yelled Ratty from across the office. Scotty ran to him and looked out of the window in amazed horror. An army of dragons, zebras and griffins were laying waste to the city below them.

“It was a trap!” Said Scotty. “Shadow knew we would go for White Stripe, so he set a trap, as soon as he was knocked out his army would destroy the city!”

“What do we do?”

Scotty turned to his friends who were watching him intently, expecting him to flee. “We fight! For Equestria!” And with that Scotty spread his wings and leapt out of the window into the chaos of battle below.

Part 3: The Battle of Los Pegasus

Chapter Twelve (A): The Battle for Los Pegasus, Scotty’s POV
Scotty knew he shouldn’t be flying, the damage he had already done to his wing was substantial and he was risking losing the ability to be able to fly again by charging down into battle like this but he knew that Equestria’s best hope was resting in an ESS safe house on the far side of the city. He heard a rush of wind come up behind him and turned his head, Jocky was flying behind him and to his left and on his right was Ratty trying hard to concentrate on keeping himself steady on his jet boots. Further behind them was a squadron of black armoured griffins, Scotty looked at his fellow agents. “Keep them off me until I reach the safe house!” He yelled. The pair nodded and dropped back out of sight. Scotty flew on and was only a moment away from the safe house when a griffin slammed into his side. If he had been in his armour the blow would have barely scratched him, but as it was he was wearing a thin business suit which offered minimal protection. He crashed through the roof of a nearby building, scaring an old mare witless in the process, and slid to a stop against a wall. He picked himself up and made sure nothing was broken then he turned to face his attacker, the griffin was hovering above the hole Scotty had made, waiting. He beat his wings and darted upwards. He slammed his full weight into the griffin, forcing her upwards, away from the innocent ponies below. The pair rose high above the city and Scotty glimpsed a dragon climbing the skyscraper where they had left the unconscious White Stripe. Then the griffin hit him again, her eagle like claws raking deep cuts into his cheek, and he fell. Fast. He spread his wings and came to a stop inches from the pavement, a fall which would have killed him had he slowed himself a second later. His mind raced, the griffin was too good an aerial combatant and he couldn’t beat her in the air, he needed to get her on the ground. He let himself drop gently and started to run towards the safe house. There was a rush of air behind him and he dropped to the ground as the griffin shot overhead. He stood up quickly and braced himself as she spun around and shot back towards him. He took aim and let a powerful stun bolt loose from his necklace, the shot hit her square in the chest and she dropped to the ground and slid to Scotty’s hooves. He rolled her onto her back and stood on her wings, looking down into her eyes beneath her helmet.

“Wrong pony to play with.” He told her and slammed his forehooves into her face knocking her out cold. He spun and tasted copper; he spat out blood and carried on to the safe house. He knocked on the door in a quick three beat rhythm. The door swung open and revealed the magical glow of three unicorn horns; Fii, Rarity and Twilight. He breathed a loud sigh of relief at the sight of the three of them before realising that they hadn’t lowered their magic.

“If I were y’all, I’d be gettin’ out of tha way real fast.” Came Applejack’s voice from the shadows. Scotty nodded and dived to the left as three powerful stun spells shot from the doorway hitting the zebra that had been standing behind him full in the chest and throwing him across the street and into the wall of another building which he slid down slowly. Scotty looked at him for a moment before turning back to the door. Fii was stood in the doorway, clad in her silver armour, her face grim.

“Get the girls ready to move.” Scotty told her as she let him pass into the building.

“Do you know where Celestia is?” She asked him.

“Yeah, we do and we have a long way to go yet.” He replied as he opened one of the saddle bags sat on his bed and grabbed the silver armour that fell out of it. Fii nodded and moved off to find the girls while Scotty shrugged off the torn suit and pulled his armour on.
He had just placed his helmet on when there came a second knock at the door. Preparing himself for an ambush Scotty pushed open the door revealing Jocky standing on the step. Scotty ushered his friend inside and closed the door.

“Where’s Ratty?” He asked the orange pegasus.

“The lad’s with the ground resistance, trying to clear a path out of the city.” Replied Jocky as he pulled his own armour out of a wardrobe. “White Stripe’s escaped on a dragon, but we’re putting up a good fight for the air as well.”

“Who’s leading the air resistance?” Asked Scotty.

“Spitfire and her Wonderbolts.” Answered Jocky, which took Scotty aback.

“Shadow left them alone?” He asked but Jocky shook his head.
“He tried to capture them but they escaped and dropped off the map, until now anyway.” Scotty nodded before he looked around, the six girls and Fii were stood behind him, waiting to be told what they needed to do.

“Okay, the roads are crawling with zebras and the air is flooded with griffins but I think that flying is our quickest and safest way out of this city, use your boots and spell necklaces, if we get separated meet up at white tail woods north of the city.” He looked about the six scared faces before him. “We’ll be fine, stick together and good luck.” They stepped out into the street and took off flying northward in a tight triangle formation.
They had travelled for about two minutes when they encountered combat. A squadron of griffins were flying around a single target; Fleetfoot the Wonderbolt. There was a cry from within their group as Rainbow Dash spotted her hero under attack and a rainbow streak shot past Scotty and slammed into one of the griffins. He cursed and fired a bolt of magic at another griffin who tumbled out of the air. One by one the griffins fell, leaving the group and Fleetfoot hovering above the streets looking down.

“Fleetfoot, you alright?” Asked Scotty quickly, the dazed Wonderbolt nodded.

“Where are Spitfire and Soarin?” Asked Fii. Fleetfoot turned to her.

“They’re with Ratty, fighting around the bottom of that Skyscraper.”

“Do you know who’s leading the attack?” Scotty pressed and Fleetfoot nodded.

“Dark Spark’s in charge now.”

Scotty nodded grimly. “I thought so.”

“I need to get back there and help them out.” Fleetfoot said preparing to fly away.

“I’m going with you.” Said Rainbow Dash.

“What?” asked Twilight and her friends loudly.

“There are ponies here that need help,” Dash explained. “If I can help them I will.”

Scotty nodded before saying. “Only if Jocky goes with you.”

The rainbow pegasus nodded and the trio set off towards the skyscraper.
The remaining ponies carried on until they were over the fields outside the city when a spell shot from behind them, catching one of Twilight’s flight boots and sending her tumbling down onto the grass below. She had barely landed when zebras surrounded her. Scotty turned back towards her when there was an ear-splitting roar; a dragon. At the sound Fluttershy’s wings locked fast to her sides and she too dropped from the sky into the hooves of the waiting zebras. Fii slammed into Scotty’s side, driving him away from Twilight, back into the air.

“What are you doing?!” He yelled at her twisting out of her grasp.

“You going down there now would be suicide, what good would getting yourself killed do for her?” Scotty looked at Twilight once more and saw a dark green unicorn smiling up at him and next to him; a rainbow maned pegasus, a blue unicorn, an orange pegasus and the three Wonderbolts. Zebra soldiers brought Fluttershy and Twilight to Dark Spark’s hooves and chained them to the others.

Scotty sighed. “Ok, yeah, you’re right, we can’t help them here. We need to keep going.” The other three girls protested but there was something in Scotty’s voice that made it final and they relented and flew northward. Scotty risked one final look at the city as the great skyscraper collapsed burying it under a layer of rubble. Los Pegasus was lost.

Chapter Twelve (B): The Battle for Los Pegasus, Ratty’s POV
“Keep them off me until I reach the safe house!” Scotty called back to Ratty and Jocky who nodded. Ratty fired his boosters launching himself backwards towards the griffins.

He looked at Jocky. “You think we can pull off a Baltimare manoeuvre on these guys?”

“Aye, I was just about tae say that lad!” Nodded the pegasus and he beat his wings and glided over the three griffins who all turned to meet him forgetting momentarily about the unicorn. By the time they remembered Ratty had slammed his full weight into them sending one spinning wildly into a building with a loud crack, the griffin remained stuck to the wall. Jocky tackled another one and slammed him into the ground, knocking him out cold. The last griffin faced the two agents at once and they hit her as one sending her sprawling. A sound like the ground was splitting open hit the pair as they stood catching their breath and they turned to see a huge dragon begin to claw its way up the skyscraper.

“I’m going tae go out on a limb and say that that’s White Stripe’s way out of the city.” Said Jocky spreading his wings.

Ratty nodded and tapped his hoof on the ground three times, firing off his boots. “Then let’s go bag us a dragon.”
They spent almost five minutes flying around the dragon attempting to slow it down but really they were nothing but pesky flies. As White Stripe picked himself up and climbed onto the dragon’s back another group of griffins attacked the agents, forcing them back. Then three black cloud contrails, highlighted with lightning bolts slammed into the griffins and knocked them out cold. Spitfire swung around to a stop in front of them.

“Ratty, Jocky, long time no see!” She smiled and Ratty grinned back at her.

“You got here just in time.”

“White Stripe got away.” Pointed out Jocky.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get another shot at him.” Replied Ratty, before turning to him. “I’m going to go down there and help clear a path out of the city, I need you to go to the safe house and make sure everything is okay there.” Jocky nodded and took off across the city while Ratty turned to Spitfire. “I need you three to gather pegasus troops to you, we need to gain air superiority if we’re going to win this thing.”

“Okay, good luck Ratty.” Said Spitfire and with that the three Wonderbolts sped off across the city. Ratty descended to the street and landed gracefully before moving to the nearest fight. It was going to be a long day.
For about ten minutes it looked like the ponies were going to be able to beat back the attack but then Dark Spark showed up on his blasted dragon and then Spitfire and Soarin had come back without Fleetfoot after being ambushed by a squadron of griffins. The pony resistance had been pushed back to the huge courtyard that surrounded the skyscraper, which, after the damage done to it by the dragon, looked ready to collapse. So, needless to say Ratty was more than relived when Jocky arrived with Rainbow Dash and Fleetfoot in tow.

“How’s it going lad?” Called down Jocky as he fired a spell from his necklace that dropped a griffin from the air.

“Oh, just swimmingly!” Ratty called back, spin kicking a zebra in the face. At that point one of the barricades the ponies had built fell and the courtyard was flooded with zebra soldiers. Ratty cursed loudly and the group dived into the fray, kicking and firing spells in all directions. The fighting lasted for about a minute before the ponies were beaten back and surrounded. Ratty would have kept fighting if it wasn’t for the fact that Dark Spark was stood before them holding Rainbow Dash in a paralysing spell in front of his dragon’s jaws.

“Surrender!” The dark green unicorn ordered.

“Don’t do it!” Rainbow told Ratty causing Dark Spark to flick his head and move her closer to the dragon’s mouth which snapped loudly making her yelp in fear. Ratty stood defiantly facing down Dark Spark for a moment before Jocky placed a hoof on his shoulder.

“You know we can’t sacrifice her, she’s a wielder of an element of harmony, she’s too important.”

Ratty sighed and nodded. “Okay Dark Spark, we’ll do this your way.”

The dark unicorn smiled and turned to a group of zebras that stood nearby. “Put them in shackles and take them to the chill.” He grinned menacingly and Ratty’s heart sank. “And then collapse the skyscraper on this pitiful place.”

Part 4: Rescue Beneath the Ice

Chapter 13: A New Plan
Morale was low at the campsite in White Tail Woods that night; nopony was in the mood to joke around the fire. The worst thing about the whole situation was the fact that they knew that five of their friends were prisoners to Dark Spark. Applejack was angrily bucking an apple tree that had lost all of its apples on the first buck and was now dangerously close to falling over. Pinkie’s usually bouncy and messy hair had all deflated and was now hanging straightened over her shoulder. Rarity had retired to her tent which was now almost flooded from tears. Scotty had stood angrily digging at the ground with his hoof and now stood in a hole that he had dug that was larger than him. Fii lay on the ground and stared blankly into the fire. They were at a loose end, they had no leads on where Dark Spark had taken the others and whether or not they saved Celestia, without their friends they wouldn’t be able to wield the elements against Shadow. Then a shrill scream split the night which made them all start and turn, they knew that voice.

“That’s Fluttershy!” Exclaimed Applejack as she ran towards the sound. She had almost reached the edge of the clearing when Scotty slammed into her, knocking her to the ground.

“We can’t go out there; if we do we’ll only get ourselves caught.” Applejack struggled against him for a moment before relenting and nodding her agreement.

Scotty looked about him at the other ponies. “Fii, can you track them and find out where they’re headed while we take them camp down.” Fii nodded and took a step back into the shadows disappearing from sight.
When Fii returned about ten minutes later the little group were pulling on their saddlebags, she trotted over to Scotty. “Like you thought, Dark Spark’s taking them to the chill but the Wonderbolts aren’t with them, looks like White Stripe has taken them to Canterlot.”

“Shadow’s got Nightmare Moon in his saddlebag; he’s probably going to use her magic to change the Wonderbolts into the Shadowbolts.” Scotty said grimacing. He turned to the others. “We’re going north; Dark Spark’s taking our friends to the chill, a prison under the northern ice cap.”

Fii tapped him on the shoulder. “Actually Scotty, I’m not going with you.”

“What?” Scotty exclaimed.

“I’m not going with you.” Fii said then sighed at Scotty’s confused expression. “Look, the way I see it if you’re going to the chill you’re going to rescue Celestia as well and princess or not, you still won’t have a chance of breaking through the defences at Canterlot, you’ll need an army, an army that I can gather.” Scotty considered this but the way his ears drooped back over his head she could already predict his answer.

“Okay, you’re right; we’ll need an army of huge proportion to even have a chance at taking Canterlot; it’ll take us about two weeks to reach the chill so if you are able to gather the main part of an army at Neighagra Falls for three weeks from now we’ll meet you there.” Fii nodded and turned hoisting her own saddlebags which Scotty had already packed for her onto her back.

“Be safe Scotty.” She told him as she pulled him into a tight hug crushing the wind from him. The red pegasus nodded and she stepped back and tapped her hoof firmly on the ground three times, firing up her flight boots. She flashed the group a quick reassuring grin and rose up and out of the clearing, disappearing into the night. Scotty stood until he could no longer hear the light whine of her flight boots before turning to face the others. “We’ll keep close on Dark Spark’s trail, maybe only half a day behind him, but if we see them, even if we could reach out and touch our friends we do not attack unless I say so. Is that perfectly clear?” He didn’t move until everypony reluctantly nodded their agreement at which point he turned to face north. “Okay then, let’s go save our friends!”

Chapter 14: Sparky
Twilight struggled walking with the shackles on at first but after Ratty showed her a spell she could subtly use to lighten the load she managed well enough. Dark Spark drove the group hard, pushing until late at night and starting again at sunrise. Jocky and Ratty seemed oddly at ease however and when she had enquired as to why Jocky told her that when the team had served in Saddle Arabia he had been a prisoner of war for almost a year and that Ratty had gotten himself captured in order to rescue him.

“Compared with how them ponies oot there handle ye,” Jocky had said grimacing at the memory. “This colt winnae be able tae break us in a million years.” That had earned him an extremely brutal blow across his face from one of his guards which had welled up into a huge blue and black bruise that forced him to completely close his right eye. Fluttershy wasn’t coping so well with the situation having become completely silent and introverted since their capture. Rainbow Dash was putting on a brave face that may have fooled the agents and her captors but it wasn’t fooling Twilight; beneath that brave exterior her friend was completely terrified. Then there was her captor himself; Dark Spark had only spoken to the group to taunt them and had otherwise said nothing for the last thirteen days. At least until that night. The group were sat huddled close together to keep themselves warm against the frozen northern wind when Dark Spark approached them.

“Come to gloat, my old friend?” Ratty spat seeming like he was about to choke on the word friend. Twilight tensed; expecting Dark Spark to strike Ratty but instead the green unicorn regarded him with a sadness in his eyes which, it seemed to Twilight, were slightly lighter than usual.

“No Ratty, actually I’ve come to help.”

“Uh huh, now tell me the one about the pony who talked to oatmeal.” Muttered the agent turning away from Dark Spark who stepped closer to him.

“Damn you Ratty, I’m only able to keep him out for a few minutes so you can either forget your stubborn pride for a moment and listen to my advice or you can ignore me.”

Ratty’s ears pricked up and he turned his head back to Dark Spark. “Well Sparky I’m listening.”

“I personally have no doubt that Scotty will be coming for you and that you will be marching on Canterlot before long. So I’m going to tell you that that will be impossible.”

“Why is that?” Asked Ratty.

“Shadow has placed a crystal at the city centre that shields the entire place from assault so unless you have somepony on the inside that can destroy the crystal then you are locked out of Canterlot. Oh and White Stripe has arrested your teammate Crimson.”

Ratty strained against his chains and kicked at the ground in rage. “If he has done anything to my sister he will be eating through a straw for the rest of his miserable life.”

“If he still has a life.” Pointed out Sparky who then winced suddenly. “Dark Spark’s biting back.” He grimaced and he turned to leave.

“Sparky,” Ratty called out, Sparky turned back to him. “Thank you. You may have just saved hundreds if not thousands of lives.” Sparky nodded and walked away. The group looked at one another in silent anticipation before Jocky broke the silence.

“We’d better get some sleep, we’ll be at the prison by the end of tomorrow.”

Chapter 15: Break-in
Wrapped in winter clothes so that it was impossible to see any part of his body beneath them Scotty looked out over the glacier beneath which lay the greatest prison in Equestria. There were no clues to it even existing besides some twenty zebras patrolling the nearby cliff that contained the hidden entrance. Turning away into the whirling snowstorm he crept back down the hill to join the others. The three other ponies were all similarly wrapped with only minor differences setting them apart; Pinkie Pie’s nose was sticking through her scarf, Rarity had chosen to wear a stylish purple scarf and Applejack had placed her hat back on top of her winter gear.

They turned to him as he approached. “Okay they’re all down there now.”

“So what’s the plan?” Asked Rarity.

“I think I can cut through the ice to sneak in but I won’t be able to sneak all four of us in only myself and one other.”

“Then Applejack should go.” Suggested Rarity.

“Now hold on just an apple-bucking minute!” Exclaimed Applejack. “Why exactly are y’all suggestin’ that I go down there and do this?”

“Because Applejack you are the only one out of the three of us who can fight well enough for this.”

Applejack opened her mouth to object and then closed it and nodded. “Okay, yeah that’s right I suppose.”

Scotty nodded and turned to the other two. “Wait here and stay out of sight and remember to head to Neighagra falls if anything goes wrong.” The pair nodded and shrunk back into the snow.

Applejack turned to Scotty who faced her. “This way.” He said walking off toward the glacier.

Eventually he stopped over a chunk of flat ice and clipped an ESS necklace around his neck. He pointed it towards the ice and said. “Cut.” With that a blue beam shot from the gem and began to cut through the ice. Eventually a hole slightly larger than a pony dropped down into the darkness below. Applejack went first, lowering herself down on a rope onto a flat rock surface, Scotty followed her down gliding gently to the ground next to her as she stared in awe at the sight before them. A huge open expanse of a cavern stood before them with a massive complex in the centre of it with spotlights darting around it. Zebras patrolled in groups around it and stood upon walls that were well over the height of ten ponies. Scotty didn’t miss a beat; telling Applejack to stick close to his tail he darted out and ran flat out towards the facility with her close behind. They flattened themselves against the colossal walls of the building as spotlights swept the area they had been mere seconds before. Motioning for Applejack to cover him Scotty turned to the wall and whispered “Cut.” A pony sized chunk of wall dropped and slowly lowered to the floor. The pair stepped through into a courtyard that rivalled the royal courtyard in Canterlot for size. Scotty and Applejack stepped cautiously out into the yards and suddenly floodlights snapped on blindingly and an alarm began to blare.

A booming voice said “Intruder, identify yourself!”

Applejack shook her head several times and regained her vision and gaped at what she saw. “Oh…”

“Ponyfeathers!” Scotty finished as he looked at the small army of zebras and griffins that had quickly surrounded them and at the dark green unicorn grinning down menacingly from a gantry above them.

Chapter 16: Chaos Beneath The Ice
Scotty and Applejack turned so that they were back to back and facing out towards the enemy and waited. Scotty began counting under his breath so that only Applejack could hear him; when he reached ten the pair broke their formation and charged towards the nearest group of zebras. Applejack reached her group and slid beneath their legs coming to her feet behind them and launching into a kick that would have felled an apple tree sending them sprawling. A shadow passed overhead and she looked up to see Scotty gliding with a griffin clutching onto his thigh. The griffin dug his claws into Scotty and the Pegasus yelped and kicked out; throwing the griffin into a pile of his comrades who all promptly landed on the floor.

“STRRRIIIKKKEEE!!!” Scotty yelled grinning as he caught a second pursuer with a two hoofed kick. Applejack smiled and launched at another group of zebras; kicking left and right, up and down until all her foes lay scattered about her. She looked up, her eyes searching the air for Scotty when she saw a group of zebras aiming crossbows at her from a gantry. She froze; terrified and found herself unable to move. A red blur shot past her, hovering barely three inches from the ground – Scotty. He darted to the gantry supports, firing a blue beam from his necklace that cut through them all in the blink of an eye and caused the gantry to collapse scattering the archers across the floor.

Scotty landed next to Applejack. “You alright?” He asked, his face concerned but she nodded and he made ready to take off once again. As he left the ground a shadow moved and slammed into him, throwing him across the floor. He got to his feet and turned to face this new foe as Dark Spark slammed a forehoof into his face and sent him stumbling. Applejack ran towards them but was cut off by a group of zebras and griffins who launched attacks at her all at once. She parried and struck out but it soon became clear that she would not be able to reach Scotty. The agent slid across the ground once more, his lip cut and his nose pouring blood. Dark Spark charged at him again but this time Scotty was ready. Flapping his wings he spun into a backflip, catching Dark Spark in the throat with one of his hind legs. The unicorn flipped backwards and landed heavily, struggling for air. Scotty recovered and was on him in a flash, hitting him again and again. Dark Spark hooked his legs under Scotty and threw him off. The unicorn sat up and spat blood before running for Scotty who turned to face him and stood his ground.

Right before Dark Spark reached him Scotty barked “Stun!” A blue bolt of energy crackled across the gap between them and hit Dark Spark throwing him back. He landed crumpled in a corner with small sparks of energy darting around his dazed body. Scotty turned to see Applejack kick a griffin in the face so hard that his companions all turned and fled. Having made sure Applejack was alright before he returned his attention to Dark Spark. He walked over to the crumpled and broken pony and stood over him.

“You’re beaten Dark Spark. Now stand your troops down!” He stared into the unicorn’s eyes which it seemed to him were slightly brighter gold than usual.

“Scotty, please… “

“Sparky…?” Sparky nodded slowly and Scotty ran over to him but Sparky shook his head.

“No, don’t, get out of here. Go and get your friends.” He nodded slowly to Scotty. “I’ll see you in Canterlot.” Scotty reluctantly stepped away and called to Applejack to follow him. He cut through the wall with his necklace and grabbed a zebra guard, pinning him up against the wall.

“The new prisoners where are they?”

“Third level!” The guard cried in fear.

“And the Princess?”

“Level eight!” The zebra told him before Scotty released him. Scotty turned to Applejack.

“Level eight will be better guarded, you get the others.” She nodded and hurried off. Scotty didn’t run for the staircase but simply straightened up and fired a cutting beam straight up. He flew up through seven floors passing Applejack fighting off a couple of guards on the third floor. His hooves touched down on floor eight and he grabbed the nearest guard and broke his neck silently. He charged the next two and knocked them out quickly. He turned to the only door on that level, it read “Maximum Security.” Taking a set of keys from the first guard he unlocked the door. In the middle of the room, chained so that she was suspended off the floor was Princess Celestia, alive. She looked up.

“Scotty?” she asked her voice croaky.

“Yeah, it’s me.” He said stepping closer to her and unlocking the chains. She stood and stretched her legs. Suddenly a huge booming crack split the silence and shook the ground.

“What was that?” Asked Scotty running to a window in the corridor outside. Dark Spark’s dragon was slowly smashing through the icy roof of the cavern. Scotty cursed before apologising to Celestia.

“That thing will collapse the whole cavern, time to go.” He cut through the wall and leapt out with Celestia just behind him.

Chapter 17: Cave In
Scotty landed heavily between Jocky and Ratty and was quickly pulled into a crushing embrace by Twilight. When she eventually allowed him to breathe again Jocky looked him up and down. He had a blackened right eye but besides that he was probably in better shape than Scotty was himself.

“Wow lad you look like cr… your majesty.” He quickly stopped himself spotting Celestia for the first time and bowing low. She chuckled and embraced Twilight quietly. Scotty turned back to Jocky.

“Yeah, I know, I had a run in with Dark Spark.” At the mention of Dark Spark’s name Jocky and Ratty gave each other a quick glance and Scotty remembered Sparky pleading to him for mercy.

“He talk to you guys too?” Ratty nodded his face pained, missing his friend Scotty realised. He placed his hoof on his friend’s shoulder.

“We’ll get him back Rats.”

“I know it’s just…”

“What?”

“Did we do this?”

“What do you mean?”

“In Canterlot, when we fought those zebras. We told him we needed to hold the line.”

“Yeah and then we told him to fall back. He chose not to.” Ratty shook his head.

“Ratty, he chose not to.”

“Ah hate to interrupt y’all but could we do this later!” Applejack interrupted. “We really gotta go.” Scotty nodded and looked around the cavern and then the group he was with. Four capable fliers and another four who couldn’t fly, he took a breath.

“Ok, Rainbow grab Fluttershy. Jocky take Applejack, Princess can you carry Twilight? And Ratty you’re with me.” The pairs gathered together and the fliers picked up their respective ponies as chunks of rock began to fall from the cavern ceiling.

“We really could have used Pinkie Pie and her pinkie sense right now.” Said Rainbow as she lifted into the air with Fluttershy in her hooves. The others followed suit. Scotty with Ratty on his back flew in between huge chunks of rock. The dust that was being thrown up was blinding the team, making it nigh impossible to see the rocks tumbling towards them. Rainbow Dash broke the dust cloud first, tumbling out into a roll across the ground. Jocky and Applejack were next, landing tangled in a tree. Scotty and Ratty followed them, crashing into a large snow bank. Last to exit the blinding dust cloud were Princess Celestia and Twilight. A blinding sunburst fired off and Celestia landed perfectly next to Rarity and Pinkie who ran to Twilight and hugged her. All of the girls ran together and gave each other a group hug. The others stood and watched, smiling. Princess Celestia turned to Scotty.

“So, I’m guessing that you have a plan?”

Scotty nodded. “Agent Fii is gathering an army at Neighagra Falls for an attack on Canterlot.”

Celestia smiled grimly. “So, we need to go and meet this army of yours.”

Part 5: The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 18: Preparations for War
The sun was burning bright over the group as they crested a hill and looked out over a huge camp, hundreds of tents lay spread out over a huge field that stood before a beautiful waterfall. An armoured soldier approached them and bowed low.

“Princess, your generals are awaiting your arrival in your tent. It is the one nearest the fall’s peak.”

Celestia nodded her thanks and the group set off in the direction of the tent that the guard had pointed out. They walked through crowds of colourful ponies who were grimly strapping on armour or polishing weapons. At the peak of the falls Celestia pulled open the door-flap of a massive tent. Three ponies turned to face them as they filed in. One was a bright orange pegasus with a badly scarred face and the other was an ice blue pegasus with a pure white mane shot with golden streaks. The final pony was Fii. Their conversation died off when the group entered. Fii and the blue pegasus ran to embrace the agents as they entered.

“You took your time.” Fii chastised Scotty before pulling Jocky into a long kiss.

“Okay that’s enough of that.” Ratty moaned before turning away. Celestia turned to introduce the other two ponies.

“General War Wager,” She said, pointing to the orange pony. “And Commander Ice.” She motioned to the other.

“I believe you have already met Agent Fii. General, Commander may I introduce Twilight Sparkle and her friends, the wielders of the elements of harmony.” The leaders of Celestia’s military nodded before resuming their conversation from earlier.

“We were just discussing what the best strike would be against Canterlot. We had all agreed on a direct strike into the heart of the city would be most effective.” General War Wager informed them.

“That won’t work.” Ratty told him, all eyes turned to him. “We’ve had word from a reliable source that there is a shield up around Canterlot that prevents any form of physical attack against the city.”

“We have?” Scotty asked surprised and Ratty nodded.

“You weren’t the only one who talked to Sparky remember.”

“So what do you suggest?” Asked Commander Ice.

“All members of the ESS known to White Stripe have been taken prisoner but luckily we have one new member who has never been met by White Stripe.” Jocky told them.

“Miniskate.” Scotty said nodding in realisation and Jocky nodded.

“If you can get us into contact with her, we can tell her what to do.”

“What are you going to do?” War Wager asked him.

“We’ve been on the road since the fall of Los Pegasus so, if it’s all the same to you, I’m going for a drink and a wash.”

Chapter 19: The Plan
Scotty reclined on a lounger that took up part of the central area he shared with Jocky and Ratty. He had towels wrapped around his mane and tail, drying them after his shower. He had inspected his new collection of injuries while he showered too. There was a triple scar on his right cheek from his fight with the griffin soldier in Los Pegasus and a set of slightly fresher wounds from the skirmish in the chill including a cut lip and several claw wounds in his left thigh. Jocky sat opposite him reading a military report of the defences across Equestria, his right eye in a healing poultice that was treating his black eye. Ratty had ducked out for some air about five minutes beforehand.

“Ratty’s still blaming himself for what happened to Sparky you know.” Jocky said raising his head and Scotty nodded.

“He won’t believe that it wasn’t his own doing until he hears it from Sparky himself.”

“What makes you so sure that we’ll be able to save Sparky?” Jocky asked and Scotty sighed slowly.

“It’s Shadow’s magic that created Dark Spark so, in theory when we defeat Shadow Sparky will be returned to normal and besides, it’s better than thinking about the alternative.” Jocky nodded at this.

“Aye, I suppose that’s true.” The door to the tent opened and Fii’s disembodied head popped through.

“Sorry to interrupt your R&R boys but we’ve managed to raise agent Miniskate.” The two agents jumped to their feet, Scotty untangling himself from the towels as he did so.

The trio marched up to the command tent and entered in silence. Ratty, the generals, Twilight and her friends all turned to face them as they trooped in. Princess Celestia sat in a corner, her horn glowing with a faint yellow colour.

“Agents, good to see you.” General War Wager said. “You’ll have to forgive the princess, we’re having to use her magic to boost the signal.” Stood on the other side of the war table from the group stood the hologram of a pony. She was shorter than Twilight by half a head and her purple hair fell flat against the right side of her face down to her chin, it was streaked with white, as was her tail which trailed, twisting, down to the ground. Her cutie mark, almost obscured as it was by a pair of folded pegasus wings, was a pair of roller-skates tied together by their laces. Her deep teal face broke into a smile when Scotty, Jocky and Fii stepped into her field of view causing her image to distort slightly. When she spoke her voice was distorted with static.

“Man, am I glad to see you guys.” She said. Scotty offered her a quick smile in return.

“Sorry for the rush agent Miniskate,” he said “but we aren’t sure how long our signal is going to last so we’ll have to skip the formalities.” Miniskate nodded her violet eyes becoming deadly serious.

“What do you need?” She asked.

“We need the crystal that’s keeping Shadow’s shield around Canterlot destroyed.”

“Now?”

“No, we’re staying here for two more days while the last remaining troops check in then we’re going to start the five day march to Canterlot.” Miniskate nodded again her image flickering. “So we’ll signal you again when we need you to move on the crystal.”

“Got it. I’m guessing you want me to hide away after that.”

“Until our forces break the Canterlot walls, yes. Then you’re free to help out in any way you see fit.” Miniskate grinned.

“Not a problem sir.” She told him.

“One last thing kid,” Commander Ice said stepping forward. “You’re our only contact left in Canterlot who can pull this thing off, so basically, the fate of all Equestria rests in your hooves and yours alone.” Miniskate’s smile froze and she stood stock still form a moment before it leapt back.

“Ok then,” She said. “No pressure.” The magical aura that came from the necklace she wore faded and her image flickered out of existence.

Chapter 20: A Moment to Stop, Think and Love
Two days later Scotty was alone in his tent reading a report from the Crystal Empire which told him that a valiant defence led by Prince Shining Armour was holding well against an army nearly seven hundred strong. There came the noise of a pony clearing her throat from outside and he looked up from a paragraph giving him a casualty report. Twilight Sparkle’s crystalline voice called out.

“Scotty, can I come in.” He leapt up and swept away the reports, carefully hiding the Crystal Empire one which he had just read and which told of Princess Cadence being taken prisoner by enemy forces and brought to Canterlot.

“Yeah.” He called back. “Come in.” She entered and Scotty had to scramble to keep his jaw from dropping open. Twilight was wearing a set of golden armour with a royal purple tunic underneath. On her head she wore a helmet that presented a hole for her horn and a groove in which she would usually place her element crown. She grinned from beneath her helmet and Scotty noticed a lock of blue mane poking out from it and sitting neatly on her forehead.

“So what do you think?” She asked, obviously pleased with her new equipment.

“It looks good…” Scotty said his voice trailing off, Twilight’s smile faded and she walked over and sat next to him on the sofa.

“What’s wrong?” She asked undoing the clasp on her helmet and placing it gently on the ground.

“I went to war in Saddle Arabia to protect you from all this.” Scotty told her, his voice heavy with sorrow.

“All what?” She asked him.

“War, destruction and death.” He told her. “It’s a horror I hoped you would never have to face, that’s why I never told you I was alive. Because I didn’t want you to get hurt.” Twilight stared at him for a moment, taking in what he had just said. He had sacrificed everything, even love, to protect her from the horrors of the world. She didn’t know what to say so instead she decided to let her actions speak for themselves. Wrapping her forelegs around him she pulled him into a tight hug, he turned to her and placed his head on her shoulder. They stayed like that, as still as statues, for about five minutes, letting that simple embrace say what a thousand words could never say; that she still loved him, that she forgave him and that she would never ever let him go again. Eventually Scotty raised his head and kissed her, gently at first but then five long years of separation caught up with them and she pulled him close into her and kissed him back harder.

Across the camp another love was blooming, Ratty was sitting around a campfire with the other five girls, all of whom were wearing their own newly forged sets of armour. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy wore shining sliver with dark blue tunics beneath, Applejack wore golden armour with a bright red tunic, Pinkie Pie wore a slate grey steel armour with red beneath and Rarity was in icy blue with a purple under armour. They were carrying on the first kiss stories they had been telling the night before Shadow’s arrival. Fluttershy was still refusing to share, Rainbow Dash was boasting about a tough young stallion at the Wonderbolt academy, Pinkie Pie hadn’t yet kissed anypony and neither had Applejack. Rarity was taking every chance to bounce around having to share and Ratty himself was telling the story of a mare he met on the frontlines in Saddle Arabia.

“… It was fun but we both knew it was just a one-time event.” He finished off grinning at their expressions of wonder. Rainbow Dash then decided to steal the limelight from him by telling more stories of her adventures at the Wonderbolt academy. As she dove into her stories with herself and Pinkie Pie being the only ones who were really deeply enjoying them, Ratty found his eyes kept being dragged back to Applejack who was attempting to reassure Fluttershy that her animal friends back in Ponyville would be alright. He looked at her golden mane, orange coat and emerald eyes for a long time, she was beautiful, a little pony at the back of his mind told him even as another told him that there was no way it would work out. This internal debate raged within him for a good twenty minutes and soon became more than a little frustrating; as soon as his mind worked up the courage to stand up, walk over to her and ask her out, another doubt would spring up and crush that courage completely. Eventually the fire burned down and Rarity yawned, suggesting that they all headed to bed. Ratty nodded, hiding his disappointment took all of his training and skill at self-control. As he trudged up through the tents towards his, Scotty’s and Jocky’s tent he allowed himself a quiet moment to wallow in his own self-pity.

There was a soft swooshing sound from above his head and a playful voice said. “She likes you too ya know.” He looked up to see Rainbow Dash perched on the crossbar of a nearby trebuchet grinning down on him. He decided to play the ignorance card.

“Who?” He asked and Rainbow Dash looked at him her crimson eyes gleaming.

“You know who.” She told him. “AJ.” He gave up and sat on the grass.

“How can you tell?”

“Duh, usually when somepony won’t stop talking about somepony else you can tell things like that.”

“She… talks about me?”

“Yeah, like, all the time! Look listen pal, Applejack’s always been a good friend to me so I want to know one thing.” Ratty looked at her, suddenly suspicious.

“What’s that?”

“If I let you go back down there, if I let you ask her out. Will you ever hurt her?”

Ratty didn’t even need to think about that question. “No.” Rainbow Dash smiled mischievously.

“Good, because if you do, agent training or no, I will hurt you.”

Ratty smiled. “You know, I don’t doubt that for a second.” Rainbow Dash smiled back warmly.

“Her tent is the one on the left of our little group. She usually stays with Twilight but I’ve got a funny feeling that Twi won’t be coming back to her tent tonight.” Ratty smiled and turned to walk back down the hill when Rainbow called out to him.

“Ratty,” She said and he turned. “We all march to war tomorrow, so make tonight a night to remember.” He laughed quietly and set back off down the hill. Rainbow Dash smiled to herself and stretched her wings. “Oh AJ,” She whispered under her breath. “I got you a little present!”

Chapter 21: Equestria Marches to War
The next morning brought with it a cold, wet mist that obscured the distant horizon from view. Twilight knew she needed to get up but her body seemed completely unable to move. She was curled up against Scotty in his bunk, neither of them willing to move and break the spell just yet. After about five minutes of lying still and staring into one another’s eyes Scotty reached over and pinched her cheek lightly between two feathers on his wing.

“I love you.” He told her and she repeated the statement right back. Smiling, the red pegasus sat up and rolled out of his bunk stating he was going to cook breakfast. He made it to the flap that separated his bunk from the rest of the tent whilst keeping his nonchalant air intact before his hoof caught on a piece of Twilight’s armour which was haphazardly strewn around the place and he fell flat on his face. Twilight began to laugh hysterically and roll around on the bed in joyful glee. Scotty picked himself up, muttered “Hilarious.” Under his breath and continued. A quick check of the other bunks revealed that neither of his fellow agents had returned last night for which he offered a silent thanks to Celestia. He began to fish around for things to cook whilst Twilight gathered her armour and went for a shower. When she returned he placed a plate of the tastiest looking pancakes she had ever seen in front of her which she quickly devoured not having realised how hungry she was until this point. Scotty himself then went for a shower while Twilight cleaned up and slipped into her armour. She was ready to go and Scotty had just slipped into the midnight black tunic that lay under his own armour when Ratty and Jocky showed up and quickly dressed as well. Once he was sure he had gathered all of his gear Ratty disappeared once more whilst Scotty and Jocky attempted to work out who he could have spent the night with.

They still weren’t sure when the call went out for the army to gather although they soon found out. The friends all stood gathered near to the Princess and Scotty quickly spotted that somepony was missing.

“Where’s Rainbow Dash?” he asked Jocky quietly but the big pegasus simply shrugged. Scotty spotted Ratty stood with Applejack.

Twilight quickly caught her friend’s eye and mouthed the words. “You and I are going to have a little chat after this.” Applejack just flashed her a cheeky grin and stepped closer to Ratty who put his leg around her protectively. Scotty, Jocky and Fii who had all been watching this affair with interest were almost dying from laughter by the time Princess Celestia stepped forward to address the army.

“You have come here to liberate Equestria from those who would see it burn. Those ponies now stand in the crown jewel of our kingdom and I for one will not let this stand! Today I march on Canterlot to overthrow Shadow and his blight over our land! Shall I march alone?”

“NO!!” Came the overwhelming cry from the ponies before her.

“Shall you march alongside me?”

“YES!!”

“Then let us march. For Freedom and for Equestria!” Celestia yelled as the sun crested the hill behind the army throwing the waterfall into a barrage of rainbows.

“FOR EQUESTRIA!!!” As that final cry sounded Rainbow Dash shot from the sky and with a resounding boom, let off the largest sonic rainboom known to history.

Chapter 22: Miniskate
Miniskate got their call just as the sun was beginning to rise. She was in a basement under a safe house in the centre of Canterlot when the hologram of Scotty flickered into existence.

“While I must admit the view is awesome from this cloud I’m stood on,” He said to her. “One of the main points of this view seems to be covered by a huge shield. Agent Miniskate, break it for me.”

Miniskate narrowed her eyes and grinned. “Sir, yes sir.”

Scotty smiled and flickered out of existence.

Miniskate strapped into a black padded jumpsuit that flickered a few times before becoming completely invisible. She silently crept through the city, making sure not to bump into anypony along the way, until she arrived at the royal observatory. The zebra forces had turned the place into a fortress. Miniskate spread her wings and flew silently up to the top level and landed on a balcony. In the centre of the room beyond was a massive crystal with a wide beam shining upwards toward the centre of the shield. A door swung open at the side of the room and three zebra’s entered. The one at the head of the group, she reasoned, must be White Stripe himself.

“I’m going to be taking charge of the protection of the crystal myself.” He said to his two companions. “And, as such, I want two other troops in here with me at all times.” The two nodded and spread out, beginning a patrol of the chamber while White Stripe looked at the crystal itself.

“This is the only thing protecting us from that army out there and we shall be protecting it as if it was the most important thing in the world.” As he was speaking one of the guards had walked out onto the balcony and was now stood less than a metre from Miniskate’s nose. Silently she reached out and grabbed him, muffling his astonished cries for help she held him until he fell into unconsciousness. Once she was certain he was out she dragged him over to the corner of the balcony where he couldn’t be seen. She then took off and flew around to the balcony on the other side of the chamber and slammed down onto the second guard’s back, slamming his head into the ground and knocking him out. This manoeuvre had sacrificed her element of surprise so she deactivated the cloaking device and turned to an astonished White Stripe. He shook his head and shrugged the cloak from around his shoulders.

“Why, hello there.” He greeted her his voice low and menacing. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.” Miniskate faced him across the chamber and spoke with a clear, even tone.

“Agent Miniskate of the ESS.” She introduced herself and he scoffed.

“Is Blue Mask that desperate for new blood that he just lets anypony into his little club? Why, I’d say you’re so young that you could have only gotten your cutie mark yesterday.” She raised an eyebrow.

“Short, not young.”

“Ah so that’s what it is.” He nodded in mock understanding. She narrowed her eyes.

“Look, I’m not here for a friendly chat, I’m actually on a very tight schedule so if you don’t mind…” She flapped her wings and shot forward intent on slamming into him and knocking him over. However, when she got close enough he leapt into the air and came around with a brutal spin kick to her ribs. She sprawled onto the floor and slid for a few metres. She lay still for a moment in shock as he circled her slowly. Eventually he moved in close to finish her and she swept his legs. He fell flat and she picked herself up, kicking him across the floor. He grunted in pain and picked himself up. Then she was on him again, her hooves flying in from all directions, driving him back. Eventually she managed to grab and throw him, smashing his body through the crystal which shattered into a million tiny little shards. Miniskate didn’t even allow herself to celebrate that victory even as the shield fell and she heard the great war horns of Equestria sound their glorious chorus. She charged White Stripe once more, driving him back onto the balcony. He stumbled away from her and leaned against the railing. She took a breath, swung her hoof back and slammed an uppercut so powerful into his chin that it lifted him clear off the ground. The zebra crime lord tumbled backwards over the rail and felt himself become weightless. She watched as he plummeted to the street far below.

“That’s for Los Pegasus!” She spat after him.

Part 7: Aftermath

Chapter 28: Aftermath
Scotty glanced down at the element of harmony he now wore proudly around his neck, as if checking it was still there. The jewel had been removed and re-forged into a sky blue sapphire that was an exact copy of a part of his cutie mark: a comet. When it was on his flank this comet was yellow and it blasted past the white outline of a planet. On the golden necklace however it was singular in its journey.

He was sat in the waiting room of a makeshift medical facility in the palace’s east wing. There had been many such locations spring up across the city since the battle; medical areas to give aid to those wounded in the battle and housing areas to house the refugees from across Equestria. Scotty had been told that the battle would have been lost had it not been for the timely arrival of Shining Armour and his army of crystal ponies. As it was they had appeared just as Shadow’s forces had managed to rally an effective resistance against Celestia’s army. The crystal ponies had broken through the northern gates of Canterlot and come about behind the zebra forces. Their lines had been broken and the zebras all fled before them.

A nurse pony trotted up to him and told him that his friend was ready to see him. He smiled and thanked her, walking to the doors of what had been a bedroom. Inside were six beds, separately partitioned from one another and each bed held a pony. A blue coated earth pony with black eyes lay in one, his hoof in a sling. Another held a pegasus mother who had been beaten by zebras while defending her child. The only Ponyville resident in this ward was an ice blue earth pony called Shoeshine. None of them were who Scotty was there to see. He walked to the bed on the far left of the room and pushed aside the partitions.

“Hey, how you holding up?” He asked softly as he pulled up a chair at the bedside.

“How do you think?” Sparky said, he smiled but it couldn’t hide the pain in his voice.

“That bad huh?” Scotty smiled at his friend. Sparky sighed.

“I hurt so many ponies Scotty.” He said simply his voice thick with regret but Scotty shook his head.

“Dark Spark did, you didn’t.”

“So everypony keeps telling me, I guess I’ll have to accept that as an answer. But anyway enough about little Sparky, lying in his bed and feeling sorry for himself, let’s move on to something more cheery. Ratty tells me you’re getting married.”

Scotty spluttered with laughter. “He really needs to keep things to himself, element of trust indeed, well since you ask, not yet, I haven’t even proposed yet.”

Sparky shrugged, grinning. “From what I’ve heard that’s just a formality to get out of the way. I heard miss Pinkie Pie has already begun planning the reception.”

Scotty laughed. “Oh, that reminds me, Twilight and the girls have given you these.” His element glowed and he levitated a bunch of flowers from the saddlebags he was wearing. Sparky’s face lit up as he wrapped them in his own orange magical field. He levitated them into an empty vase on his bedside table. There was another vase there, it was black and held deep purple flowers and was decorated with a bright crescent moon symbol, Luna’s cutie mark.

“Looks like you already have yourself a little admirer there my friend.” Scotty told him and Sparky smiled.

“Do you believe that there’s somepony out there for everypony Scotty?” He asked and the red pegasus smiled.

“Yes Sparky I do. Although…” He stood and made to leave before turning back to Sparky and flashing him a cheeky grin. “I would say that you’d better hope that her big sister isn’t too overprotective.”

On the far side of the city Twilight was in the middle of a heated argument with Vinyl Scratch about the position of a new nightclub in the rebuilt Ponyville. She slammed her hoof down on the conference table that she and many other Ponyville residents were sat around discussing how they were going to rebuild the town and where the major buildings and housing areas were going to be.

“A nightclub in the middle of the housing district is just ridiculous!” She said and Vinyl sat back slowly.

“So where do you suggest we put it?” She asked and Twilight shook her head.

“I’m not really sure myself but trust me, it’s definitely on the list for new buildings.” Vinyl nodded, unsatisfied but having to deal with it. Up at the far end of the table Applejack was patiently explaining the area that would be needed for Sweet Apple Acres to Mayor Mare.

“All in all, mayor you’re probably gonna have about five or six miles between the farm and the Everfree forest.”

”Five or Six will be wide enough to fit the town and a park easily.” The mayor replied nodding. The door swung open and Scotty strode in.

“Sorry to interrupt everypony but can I ask when you think you’ll be finishing here because Twilight and I have a dinner reservation for tonight in about half an hour.” Twilight looked at him in surprise.

“We do?”

Scotty smiled apologetically. “Yeah, as of about five minutes ago.”

“She’s free to leave whenever.” Mayor Mare told him. Twilight nodded her thanks and said her goodbyes, stood and headed for the door.

An hour later she and Scotty were sat at a candlelit table in one of the fanciest restaurants in Canterlot.

“It’s amazing that places like this are able to still be functioning so soon after the battle.” Scotty was saying.

“Many restaurants were prioritised in being reopened because of the number of ponies now in the city.” Twilight told him. Scotty nodded and chewed on a fried celery stalk. Twilight, already finished sat forward.

“So tell me Scotty, what exactly have you been up to over the last five years.”

Scotty swallowed the last of his meal and said. “What do you want to know?”

“Let’s start out simple, how did you come to know Commander Ice?” Scotty smiled.

“Icy’s an old friend. He worked at my side during our last mission on the frontlines in Saddle Arabia. We had information on a large POW camp in which Jocky was being held but we needed somepony on the inside. Ratty volunteered and got himself captured. He wore a tiny device in his mane that allowed us to see and hear everything and one night we attacked. The remaining agents under my command and a military unit under Ice’s. We successfully liberated the camp before my team got their orders to return to Equestria.”

Twilight tilted her head. “Your team?”

Scotty nodded. “Strike team one, there were ten of us when we first went out to Saddle Arabia, there are now five, well six if you count Miniskate but that isn’t official yet. I took command after our last leader was killed in an ambush. But if you don’t mind I’d prefer not to talk about wars and death considering what we’ve just been through. No, I’d quite like to hear all about your adventures since that day in Canterlot.”

She broke into a huge grin and launched immediately into her tale. Scotty listened to her talk about everything from gaining her friends and defeating Nightmare Moon to the Grand Galloping Gala, from Discord to the chaos at her brother’s wedding and from the return of Sombra and the crystal empire to her friends managing to aid in its hosting of the Equestria games. When she had finished the two of them ordered dessert. When it arrived it was on a silver platter with a domed dish over it. The waiter allowed Twilight to remove the lid while Scotty suddenly found the feathers in his wing extremely interesting. She gasped when she saw what was inside; a ring. It was imbedded with a deep purple amethyst in the shape of the prominent star on her cutie mark, she whipped her head to Scotty who had begun to watch her in fascinated silence. He stuttered nervously and chewed his lip.

“I… I erm, asked Rarity to carve the gem, she hated keeping it a secret from you. I err, well I guess what I’m trying to say is err.” He raised his head and looked deep into her violet eyes with his own, blue as the sky. “Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?”

Slowly, as if handling some dangerous creature, Twilight levitated the ring from the plate and slid it gently over her horn. She looked back into his eyes, her love for him bright as the day.

“Yes Scotty, yes I will.” A grin broke out across his face as he leaned across the table to kiss her.

When he sat back he said. “Great!”

Chapter 29: The Wedding of Twilight Sparkle
“Twilight, do me a favour and tell that fiancé of yours that he simply must come down here for a suit fitting at once.” Rarity ordered as she put away the measuring tape she had been using to size Twilight for a dress. She spun across the little studio in a frantic whirlwind. She had immediately claimed ownership of the duty of making the wedding clothes and as such, had practically stolen this little boutique away from the owner completely. Twilight smiled and gently touched the ring she now wore around her horn, thinking of Scotty who, across the city was meeting with her brother, she did hope that they were getting along.

Scotty recoiled from a blow as Shining Armour swung at him. As he saw the next blow coming he leant back and allowed the crystal prince to overbalance. Scotty picked him up from beneath his chin and slammed him into the ground. He stood over Shining Armour, victorious. The unicorn held up his hooves.

“I yield, I yield.” He stood up and removed his padded gloves. “But I’ll get you next time.” Scotty smiled at his future brother in law.

“No you won’t.”

Shining Armour inclined his head. “Maybe, maybe not.”

Scotty unwound the bandages that he had wrapped around his hooves and placed his hoof over Shining Armour’s shoulder. “Come on then, let’s get cleaned off and find Ratty, he’s probably with Sparky.” Shining Armour nodded and the two of them walked to the nearby shower block.

Ratty was in the waiting room of Sparky’s ward in the medical centre he smiled and waved as they approached.

“Twilight and Rainbow Dash are inside visiting Sparky, I’ve got to tell you to visit Rarity in the boutique for a wedding suit fitting.”

Scotty frowned. “What’s wrong with my ESS suit?” He asked and Ratty raised an eyebrow.

“It’s sapphire blue.” He pointed out and Scotty nodded slowly as Shining Armour doubled over with laughter behind him.

“Oh yeah.”

Shining Armour stood up. “Well, if you’re going to go and do that, I’m going to go and find Cadence.” Scotty nodded and hugged him. As he walked away Ratty looked after him, a faint smile playing at his lips.

“You seem to be getting on with him quite well.” Scotty turned and looked at him.

“Who? Shining Armour? Yeah, we’ve always got along well, him and I.” They walked through the city, passing damaged buildings and dodging around potholes in the pathways. When they arrived at the little shop Rarity opened the door and ushered them inside. She began to bustle about them quickly with a measuring tape and Ratty smiled across at his friend and rolled his eyes, Scotty smiled as he began to realise that he was watching his life stretch out in front of him.

The wedding took place three days later, a small and quiet ceremony in the gardens of the palace. Twilight wore a long flowing white dress and flowers in her mane that were the same blue as Scotty’s eyes. Scotty wore a black suit and a tie the same purple as Twilight’s eyes, Rarity had outdone herself this time. In attendance were Princess Celestia, who led the ceremony as she had at Shining Armour and Cadence’s wedding. These two were also at the ceremony as were Fii and Jocky who were both wearing the sapphire blue suits of the ESS. Ratty stood next to Scotty at the altar as his best stallion until Twilight joined them escorted by her brother at which point he had joined Applejack and the other girls on the front row of benches. Princess Luna was there as well, in a deep purple dress and her flowing mane tied into a ponytail with silver bands. Miniskate was wearing her roller-skates and, through a combination of them and her wings she managed to get photos from almost every possible angle. Spike was the ring bearer for the ceremony and the three cutie mark crusaders were bouncing around in excitement. At the back of the little gathering stood Sparky, supporting himself on a pair of crutches and with a bandage over a busted nose that still hadn’t set properly.
In a strong contradiction to this, the reception was anything but quiet and private, almost everypony in the city was invited and the rest all turned up anyway. Ratty’s best stallion’s speech was suitably embarrassing, Shining Armour’s suitably formal and Scotty’s suitably soppy. Sparky hadn’t been wrong about Pinkie Pie putting together the reception. After the bride and groom’s first waltz and a few lively dances played by Octavia and her quartet, Vinyl Scratch and her turntables were rolled up and the entire palace was pretty blown apart by supersonic wubs. It had more than it’s fair share of entertaining moments as well, Twilight being so giddy when cutting the cake (beautifully designed by the Cake family) that she had almost killed her new husband with the knife. Rainbow Dash had got to take part in a stunt show alongside the Wonderbolts in which she had performed three consecutive sonic rainbooms by flying higher than the mountains above Canterlot and diving down below the overhang on which the city was set. When the night was nearing its end Twilight, who was absolutely blind drunk, started getting a bit too friendly with a pegasus guard named Flash Sentry for her husband’s liking and Scotty (also quite drunk) had ended up knocking him out cold. When it had come to the time for the bride and groom to get into their sky chariot and head off to their honeymoon destination, a private island in the Canterbbean, Twilight had thrown the bouquet high into the air and with an earth shattering scream of “MINE!” Rarity had lunged for it only to be pushed out of the way by Applejack who caught it deftly between her teeth and turned to look about herself for Ratty. Sparky found him first and as Applejack raised an eyebrow to him Scotty called out loudly.

“Ratty, mate! It looks like my dear wife has just forever sealed your fate!”

Ratty had smiled and levitated a little box from inside his suit. “I was going to wait until things were a little quieter.” He told Applejack who didn’t even give him time to finish his proposal, only allowing him time to say “Will you mar…” before she kissed him and told him that “yes, of course yes.” At that point in time, amid all of the sudden cheering, Twilight and Scotty slipped quietly away into the sky chariot and left, leaving Pinkie and the others to try and wind down the party. As the city receded behind them Twilight wrapped her hooves around her new husband and kissed him.

“Scotty,” she said looking deep into his eyes.

“Twilight?” He responded.

“How much luggage did you bring?”

“One case, why?” He watched her as she facehoofed before turning back to him.

“Ok, we’re going to have to work on your packing for holiday technique but for now, just kiss me.” He smiled that beautiful smile and leaned in close.

“Whatever my dear wife asks.”

Chapter 30: A New Dawn
Ratty woke up and immediately noticed that two things were wrong. One, his head felt like it was ready to explode and two, he was pretty sure that this wasn’t his bed. His suspicions were confirmed when he attempted to find his way to the door and his way was blocked by Applejack. “

And just where d’ya think you’re going.” She asked him and he smiled at her kindly.

“Back to my room, if my suspicions are right I’m going to spend most of the day being sick and I’d prefer not to make a mess in your room.”

“Well, you’re gonna have to for two reasons; one, you gave your old room to Sparky last night because he had nowhere to go after his discharge from the medical centre and two, this is not my room, it’s our room.” Ratty blinked twice and looked her up and down slowly. Suddenly his eyes caught on the emerald studded bracelet she was wearing around her left foreleg and his stomach sunk into his chest.

“Did I, uh, did I propose to you last night?” She grinned from ear to ear and nodded.

“Eeyup.” Suddenly Ratty was grinning as well and he stepped in close and kissed his fiancé hungrily, when they finally separated he groaned as his stomach gave another painful protest.

“I think we might have to wait at least a month before my hangover clears up.”

Applejack laughed. “Don’t worry, ah don’t want to have the wedding until Sweet Apple Acres and Ponyville are rebuilt and ah’ve managed to invite some of my relatives.” Ratty smiled, nodded, and then threw up.

Sparky and Ratty met in a sort of smoothie induced break between vomiting and the green unicorn clapped his friend on the back.

“Another wedding to plan, huh?” Ratty laughed and shook his head.

“Not for a while yet, we’re waiting until Ponyville has been rebuilt.”

Sparky nodded before inclining his head slightly. “When does construction begin by the way?”

Ratty turned green for a moment and quickly downed another kiwi fruit smoothie before answering. “Start of next week is when we set off. We should have cleared most of the rubble by the time Scotty and Twilight get back.”

Sparky stood staring off into the distance for a while before he shook his head with a smile. “Scotty married, you engaged, things really will never be the same again will they?”

Ratty shook his head. “No they won’t, it’s a new age in Equestria’s history and you know what? I can’t wait to find out what it’s got in store for us.”

He stood on the cliffs that curved away from the city and tested his weight on his broken leg. Damn that little pegasus, she truly had ruined everything. It had shattered his world. But he hadn’t fallen to his death. No. A broken leg was all he had received from it. Oh, and he would be back, it was a new dawn for all of Equestria and when they wrote about in the history books they would be writing about the darkest age in the land’s long history and, at the centre of it all, that was where he would be. His name was White Stripe and this, this was only the beginning.

Part 6: Harmony Rising

Chapter 23: The Walls of Canterlot
Jocky was stood next to Princess Celestia clad in his silver armour, on her other side stood Fii and the generals. Twilight Sparkle had had a brilliant idea, to sneak into the palace itself through the crystal caves beneath it. So Scotty had taken a moulded replica of Celestia’s horn and he, Ratty and the girls had set out separately from the army to sneak in as soon as the shield dropped. As Miniskate across the city knocked White Stripe over a balcony the horns of war sounded around Jocky’s ears and he, along with the five thousand ponies behind him charged at the high walls that were surrounding the city. When he got to within a few metres of the wall he spread his wings and flapped them. As he landed on the wall with griffins charging down onto the massed troops beneath him, he kicked a zebra over the edge of the wall onto the street below. Turning he saw Commander Ice land nearby with five pegasus soldiers behind him and Fii fending off a squad of zebras in a wide circle. He leapt to her side and helped her defeat her attackers.

“The gate!” Fii yelled. “We need to open the gate before the entire army gets destroyed.” Jocky nodded and led the way down the wall as ponies grappled with zebras and griffins. They reached the gate house at the same time as Ice and his team.

“Jocky, Fii watch the door and keep us covered.” Jocky and Fii nodded and took up positions on either side of the door. They stood there for a minute and held off a few zebras while inside Ice sabotaged the gate mechanism holding it open as the army poured into the city.

Once they were all inside, Ice and his team joined the agents on the wall. “War Wager and the princess are at the head of the army, your agent friend has joined them, let’s get down there!” He told them and took off. Jocky and Fii landed alongside Celestia.

“Good to see you both.” She told them. Miniskate was stood nearby dressed in one of the ESS’s prototype camouflage jumpsuits, she smiled to them. Suddenly a thought broke into Fii’s head and she cursed loudly.

“What?” Miniskate asked.

“The shield was too easy and we’ve forgotten a couple of major participants in our little game.” Jocky opened his mouth to ask who when suddenly a roar split the air and two dragons rose up from either side of the army.

“Oh, this is going to be fun!” Jocky exclaimed.

Chapter 24: Beneath the Palace
“Oh! That is nice!” Ratty said sarcastically as he lifted his hoof out of the (rather questionable) mud he had just stepped in. As he stood shaking his hoof Scotty and Twilight were pouring over a map up ahead of everypony else, it was a rather crude map its major features only barely readable.

Twilight pointed to the left fork in the path. “If I’m right it’s down there before turning right.” Scotty nodded his armour clinking off the replica of Celestia’s horn which was strapped across his back.

“I agree.” The team set off, Rarity with her horn glowing to light the way was at the front followed by Pinkie, Scotty and Fluttershy. Applejack, Twilight and Rainbow Dash were behind him. Ratty was at the back of the group, grumbling about the dirt on his hooves and lighting the back with a bright green glow. Ten minutes later Pinkie Pie’s hoof caught in something metal and she tripped. Rainbow Dash turned and brushed the dirt off with her tail revealing a metal grate.

Ratty stepped up to the grate and said “Cut.” The grate dropped down two minutes later and Scotty fluttered down into the room below. Three little fillies turned to face him with fearful interest. Rainbow Dash was next down and upon seeing her the little orange pegasus filly darted forward and hugged her leg.

“It’s okay, it’s all okay.” Rainbow said soothingly to her.

“Rainbow!” Yelled the other two girls as they ran forward. Above them Applejack and Rarity upon hearing their sisters’ voices barged Ratty out of the way and leaped down the trapdoor with twin cries of “Applebloom!” and “Sweetie Belle!” As they landed their sisters ran to them and cried into their forelegs. Scotty gave them a moment while the rest of the group climbed down before moving between the sisters.

“Girls,” He said to them. “How many others are there down here?”

“All of Ponyville and some others a’h think.” Applebloom told him. Scotty pulled back and paced the room slowly, pondering.

“Right, okay we can’t just leave them down here. But we have to remember that Shadow is the priority, Ratty and I’ll get the prisoners out but the rest of you have to trust us and move to get your elements.” The girls nodded reluctantly, Twilight took the horn replica from Scotty and began to climb back up the hole. Applejack was the last to leave, before she climbed up she wrapped her foreleg around Ratty’s neck and looked deep into his emerald eyes.

“Look after mah sister alright.”

“Don’t worry about it, trust me AJ I’ve got this.” He told her and kissed her gently. Applebloom’s eyes widened and she gasped softly. Applejack pulled away and clambered back up. Ratty turned and found the three girls staring at him with fascination. Scotty sighed with a smile and cut through the door.

Ten minutes later the two of them were at the head of a huge number of colourful ponies which included the Wonderbolts, Princess Cadence and the population of Ponyville. Spike the dragon was stood next to Scotty as he told them all what to do.

“It’s a war zone out there so make straight for the main gate, I’ve contacted Princess Celestia and she’s getting a detachment of soldiers to meet us at the exit to this place.” Once he was certain they were all agreed they began to make for the gates to the prison. When they were all about ten metres away from them the gates swung open revealing a group of some sixty armoured zebras and Dark Spark, dressed in menacing black armour.

“Well, well, well” Dark Spark said menacingly. “It seems we’ve got ourselves another little breakout on the go.” He turned to the zebras. “Take the others but the two agents are mine.” As the zebras charged the assembled ponies Spike belched flames and charged at them with a defiant cry the rest of the ponies following him. In the centre of the two battling forces the three former friends became a deadly blur of red, blue and green as the noise and chaos of battle filled the prison.

Chapter 25: The Battle of Canterlot
Jocky was stood on the nose of the black dragon that White Stripe had been riding around Equestria. He kicked it in the eye and it shook its head, throwing him off. He crashed through the roof of a nearby house and cursed loudly. He wiped blood from his nose and picked himself up. Through the gap in the roof he saw Miniskate fly up to the writhing dragon’s face.

“Come on then!” She yelled and the dragon snapped at her with its massive jaws. She led it over the walls and into the aim of the ballistae and catapults which fired a full barrage at its chest. One huge rock hit it in the head and it fell forwards and over the cliffs of the city.

“One down one to go.” Miniskate said to herself as she flew over and picked Jocky up.

On the other side of the city Fii and Commander Ice were striking up against the red dragon’s legs. Ice lunged at its left knee, twisting it and snapped it’s joint. Roaring in pain it collapsed onto its back and Fii landed on its chest and double hoof kicked its chin, snapping its head back and knocking it out cold. As soon as it stopped moving the two of them suddenly found themselves surrounded by enemy soldiers. As the nearest griffin lunged at Fii something slammed into his side and drove it across the ground. A whirlpool of colours quickly surrounded their other attackers and a familiar called out.

“Fii, Ice! We thought you two could do with a hand!”

“Spitfire?”

“You bet it’s me, now let’s get down to business shall we?” The bright yellow pegasus said as she spun a zebra warrior into the air.

“Who helped you guys break out?” Ice asked twisting in his golden armour to dodge a blow from his nearest opponent. As if in answer Ratty flew over the heads of the crowd and landed with a grunt on his back. Dark Spark barged several ponies out of the way and launched himself at the blue unicorn but suddenly there was a flash of red and silver and Scotty was by his friend’s side, blocking the incoming blows from Dark Spark. Taking advantage of the opportunity Ratty picked himself up and turned to Fii.

“We need to get back to the palace. Can you get these ponies out of the city for us?”

“Shouldn’t be too difficult!” Fii nodded.

“Good, Spitfire, round everypony up!” As the captain of the Wonderbolts began her work Scotty wrapped his forehooves around Dark Spark’s waist and lifted him off the ground. They flew away over the city, exchanging blows as they went before Dark Spark used his magic to produce a flame that set Scotty’s tail alight and sent the both of them smashing through a stained glass window in the palace. Ratty sighed and tapped his hoof, activating his flight boots, flashed Fii and Ice a quick cocky smile and blasted off after his friend. Fii turned back to her new subjects and slowly began to formulate a plan for getting them out of the city while behind her the purified chaos of battle reigned supreme.

Chapter 26: Harmony Rising
Twilight and her friends rounded a corner in the palace corridors at full tilt and almost slammed into a team of zebra guards who made up the width of the corridor. As it was Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were the first to reach the little group and they didn’t hesitate. Pinkie leapt into the zebras and sent a couple of them stumbling back. It was Fluttershy who held the real surprise. With a ferocity that even Dark Spark would have hesitated to use she slammed into the nearest enemy and beat him with her hooves until he was curled up into a little ball to protect himself from her rage. She stepped back and launched into a kick that sent him flying headfirst into, no through, the wall. Everyone stopped for a moment and stared, wide eyed in horror, at the hole he had made in the wall before Fluttershy called after him timidly.

“Um, I’m um sorry.” After another moment the combat resumed and the girls found themselves surrounded by foes on all sides. As the circle tightened around them like a noose Twilight closed her eyes. Suddenly there was the sound of glass breaking, of ponies in armour bouncing off of each other and the floor and a despairing cry of “Oh man not my tail!” Nervously Twilight opened her eyes and saw that the zebras on one side of the circle had all been bowled over and that the nearby window was completely smashed. There was a whining sound as Ratty appeared at the window and landed just inside the corridor.

Further up the corridor Twilight spotted Scotty round on a floored Dark Spark, Scotty’s ears were flattened against his head in purified rage. “Look what you’ve done to my tail!”

Twilight’s eyes moved down the offending appendix and found that the usually pointed end of it was missing and that further up his tail came to a rather scraggly end that was blackened and still spouting a thin smoke trail. Dark Spark didn’t look up at him, mainly because he couldn’t, he had slammed his head off of the floor and was completely out for the count. Behind her the remaining zebras gave up on trying to stand against the chaos before them and ran for their lives. Ratty brought Twilight’s mind back to the present.

“Ok then, back to business?”

The eight of them moved through the palace, fighting off zebras and griffins as they moved towards the vault. Their progress was slow as they had to move around the throne room rather than cut through it and the constant hindrance of guards soon became tedious. Eventually they came to a set of double doors with a hole in between. Twilight used her magic to swing the horn replica off of her shoulder and, holding it out in front of her, stepped up to the doors and slid the horn into the lock. Blue lights slid up the doors and they opened up slowly, revealing a chest inside them. Ratty wrapped the chest in his magic and levitated it out, opening it up revealing the five necklaces and crown that made up the elements of harmony. Each of the six girls grabbed their own elements and put them on.

“So, now for Shadow.” Rainbow Dash said and the others all nodded.

“Right get yourselves ready and we’ll get ourselves in there.” Scotty told them.

Ratty straightened up and said to them. “Okay, I’ve got a plan…”

Chapter 27: The Endgame
Shadow was sat on the throne that Princess Celestia had ruled Equestria from for the last thousand or so years when the great doors to the throne room flew open and the six ponies all trotted in. He began to laugh as he saw what the six girls were wearing.

“Well, I see that you have found your little toys.” The group of ponies stood and looked at him in rage. Beside him Nightmare Moon and Dark Spark grinned down at them. Dark Spark had bruises and cuts across his body and stood holding his leg off the ground but he still managed to hold the remaining strings of his dignity together.

Twilight Sparkle stepped forwards. “It’s over Shadow! Canterlot has fallen and we’ve come with our elements of harmony, now you can either come quietly or we will take you by force!”

Shadow chuckled. “Such aggression.” He turned to his two lieutenants. “Would the two of you care to remove these blasphemers from my throne room?” The two dark ponies nodded and charged at the ponies. Just as they came within a foreleg’s distance from them Scotty and Ratty shot from the shadows at the sides of the room tackling Dark Spark out of the way as the six girls released a combined blast from their elements of harmony that struck Nightmare Moon and spun around her in a rainbow of colour. When the cloud cleared Princess Luna was stood where Nightmare Moon had been, she raised her head and offered the girls a thankful smile. To the side Scotty had Dark Spark pinned to the ground as Ratty circled slowly back around meaning to strike Shadow while his attention was elsewhere. With a snarl the dark alicorn took one of the gilded spears that lay on the statues that were on either side of the throne and held it out in a threatening pose.

“Equestria is mine!” he yelled challenging his foes as zebra guards began to pour into the room.

Twilight raised her head and said simply. “Not anymore.” The rainbow blast that came from the elements of harmony shot towards Shadow who leapt off the throne and landed on the ground nearby as the blast harmlessly hit the throne. There was commotion in the throne room as the battle from outside spread inside, Scotty glimpsed Jocky and Fii fighting back to back and Miniskate darting between foes on her roller-skates, dispatching each one with deadly efficiency. Ratty seized the opportunity to lunge at Shadow but at the last second the dark lord turned and swung his spear and Ratty was flying backwards his eyes wide in shock. There was a great spear sticking deep into his chest. In that instant Scotty’s world flipped, he forgot all about Dark Spark and darted to his friend’s side with Applejack close behind him. She reached the blue unicorn and dropped to her knees at his side, her hooves behind his head, lifting him up. He spluttered as tears began to roll freely down Applejack’s face but he managed to smile up at her and reach up to brush away her tears.

“It’s okay.” He told her softly. Next to him Scotty was in silent despair, his friend was dying and even as he looked at that spear he knew there was no way to save him. Everypony else was in shock, stood where they had been, unable to move.

Shadow began to laugh in triumph. “And so ends this glorious crusade of yours.” A roar of rage broke the air and Shadow was thrown back by a huge explosion. Scotty snapped his head around to see the source of the blast. Dark Spark. Only it wasn’t Dark Spark anymore, his coat was a lighter shade of green and the black in his hair and become a navy blue colour. Sparky. Flames curled around his horn and his face was twisted in rage.

“You… Will… Never Touch My Friends Again!” He yelled and threw himself at the dark lord, throwing the two of them through a door at the side of the room. Using this temporary distraction Luna shot forward, her horn glowing.

“Scotty, Ratty do you consent to always remain friends with these six ponies.”

Scotty nodded. “Now and Forever.” On the ground Ratty nodded weakly and Luna lowered her head and touched the magical amulet around his neck.

“Then to you Ratty I grant, with all the power invested in me as a princess of Equestria, the element of harmony of trust.” Ratty’s amulet glowed and a green glow surrounded him, lifting the spear from his chest and closing his wound. He slowly raised to his feet, renewed and Luna turned to Scotty.

“And to you Scotty I give the element of harmony of courage. May these elements serve you well and you them.” Scotty became engulfed in a sky blue glow that regrew the end of his tail and filled him with a confidence unlike any he had ever felt before. In the other room Shadow threw Sparky away and turned back to the throne room only to find his way blocked by the now eight wielders of the elements of harmony. His face twisted with shock and confusion and Scotty grinned.

“Never underestimate the power of friendship!” He yelled and the eight of them fired their amulets at once and Shadow with one last scream of rage, was gone. A smoking crown dropped to the floor as Scotty turned to his friends. It was over, he realised, and a new age was dawning in Equestria.