Rise of Shadow

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.