Equestria Aflame.

by alexthegreat1611

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Sad, Tragedy, Adventure
Length: 37433

Riots and uprisings are erupting all over Equestria. And the great kingdom is now on the brink of civil war.

What started out as minor disturbances slowly grew into riots. Celestia hopes to maintain order by tightening the rules. But a tighter grip proves to have the opposite effect and the tighter Celestia squeezes, more the people retaliate. Having harmony all that Celestia knows, she isn't prepared for a full out rebellion and slowly gains absolute power in an attempt to restore order. Despite Luna's objections. And when Equestria is split, our six ponies have a decision to make.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-01-04 13:32:58 UTC

Chapter 1

    A messenger sprinted through Canterlot. He had been pounding his hooves for miles, for the message he carried was of vital importance. He was almost there. The guards recognized him and let him pass into the princess's court. He almost knocked the doors down in his attempt to get to the princess and deliver his message. "Your Majesty!" the messengerpony yelled then continued to pant heavily.

      Celestia's attention was immediatly drawn to him, driving her from her work of managing a kingdom. "What is it?" the sun princess called in her calming voice slowly making her way towards him.

     "A message, highness." He panted. And almost collapsed walking towards the princess to hand her the paper with the important news, his adreniline was wearing off and fatigue was gripping him.

     Celestia took the note using her magic and nodded a dismissal to the messenger. He walked out and Celestia was reading the message. Her convoy to Baltimare about a "disturbance" was...ambushed. "What?" Celestia thought to herself, "I sent 20 soldiers! Who would do this?" She took that piece of paper from view to reveal the paper behind it. A casualty report. Six ponies dead the captain among them, ten more wounded. One of the four unharmed ones made the report describing what happened as he remembered it.

     "We were marching down a road, on our way to Baltimare, on a public disturbance call. I guess it was large enough to warrant the use of military personnel. We had marched for a day already from Fort Mane, we had about half a day left before Baltimare. We marched down into a valley. We weren't really expecting anything and we weren't paying attention to much accept the dirt beneath our hooves as we marched. We weren't marching in enemy territory, so there wasn't any reason to be keeping watch on the march." Celestia shook her head, noticing the soldier's excuses and continued to read. "We were just nearing the floor when I heard a thud. I looked to my right and noticed, what looked like, a spear jutting out of the ground. then another one came down and soon we were rained upon. Our captain yelled 'Incoming! Find cover!' before a spear found its way in between the plates of his crivet and his neck was gored. We scrambled, two of my comrades were run through with the spears and I felt one bounce off of my flanchard, I almost panicked at the sight of my captain bleeding out on the ground. I looked around and saw a group of four masked unicorns using their magic to levitate spears and barrage us with them from the top of the valley at the treeline of a forest. They were waiting for us. They killed six of us and hurt many more. I was lucky. The unicorns ran off after their spear supply was drained"

     Celestia didn't read the rest of the report and rolled up the paper and placed it elsewhere. She sighed and slowly paced, her magical mane flowing. These unicorns were going to be found and punished, of that she was certain. The audacity of them to attack a royal convoy and take the lives of six soldiers, was almost impossible to believe. There have been public protests and even riots but they were always quickly dispersed by the appearance of soldiers. They were becoming more bold.

     The protests started when Celestia instituted a new set of laws. The laws didn't effect much but restrict, ever so slightly, the basic freedoms the ponies had. Celestia's explanation was to "Maintain harmony and order in Equestria" The people demanded that the laws be repealed, even Luna sided with the people, but the solar princess refused. And with every new riot, another law was made, another freedom taken away. The government of Equestria wasn't totalitarian but the final say was Celestia's. Even though the two sisters were to rule "equally". A cabinet of councillors  and representatives made up the lower government. Celestia had complete legislative powers. She could make and repeal laws as she pleased without the consent of the lower government or even her sister.

      "More soldiers." Celestia whispered to herself, she would send more soldiers to Baltimare, for that riot could only have grown since then. She would send 50, no 100. Any amount to restore order. The princess quickly arranged the movement of troops to the city and sent a small contingent of the royal air force to comb the forests surrounding the city. Hopefully the pegisi can find them. These terrorists will be brought to justice.

     Celestia turned toward the door of her throne room to see another messenger come in. "Another riot, your majesty!"

      Another beautiful day in Ponyville, the sun was shining, but a strong negative overtone engulfed the town. Everypony was gathering at the town square. Twilight Sparkle woke up from a great night's sleep and took a look outside the window. She noticed Everypony herding towards the center of town, but what alarmed her most was the grim expressions on most of their faces, some even showed anger. She quickly woke spike up and dashed downstairs and out the door of her library. She paused and looked around. Still the same setting. Something was definitely wrong. Spike soon staggered out the door still half asleep.

     "Why'd you wake me up like that Twilight?" moaned Spike, and the small dragon clasped his hands together and said, "I was in the most awesome dream with rar-.." he paused and darted his eyes at Twilight with an embarrassed look on his face and quickly spurted "rare jewels! Th-there were so many! I couldn't eat all of them!" *squee*

      Twilight just gazed at spike with a weirded out, half disgusted expression that she held ever since Spike paused. She held it for a few seconds later then quickly turned her head back to the gathering crowd. "We have bigger problems Spike! Something is definitely wrong here, and I think we'll find the answers at wherever it is the ponies are gathering to!" Twilight said with a determined grin.

     "Which is where?" Spike asked, confused, but thankful that Twilight forgot his embarrassing spout.

     "I have no idea." Twilight replied, then took off down the road towards the town square, which was her first guess.

     Spike went running after her yelling "Hey! Wait up!"

Chapter 2

    Twilight galloped towards the center of town then slowed to a trot when she saw where everypony was gathering to. She was still far away from the town square, mostly due to the crowd, but what she did see is what appeared to be a unicorn up on a platform where everypony could see him and he was shouting about something. Twilight couldn't quite hear. There were also three other unicorns, but they were standing back and letting their supposed leader talk. Then she noticed Applejack in the crowd. She slowly but surely made her way towards her squeezing her way through all the ponies.

     "Applejack!" Twilight called out, making her way through the crowd "What's going on?" Twilight was still very confused.

     "Oh hey Twilight," Applejack replied in a solemn tone, "These ponies are organizing a protest against the new set o' laws made by Princess Celestia."

     Twilight was a bit stunned by what her friend said. She had heard of the new laws but they really didn't affect her, she technically was Canterlot royalty now. "Well, why are they protesting? Don't they trust the princess's wisdom?" The alicorn asked, eager for answers.

     "Because the new laws limit some of our basic freedoms!" AJ almost shouted back, a little angry, "Speech, Press, and new taxes!"

     "Wait, you agree with them?" Twilight was surprised.

     "You're dadgum right I agree with them! These new taxes are so high, especially for farmers like me. And all these new regulations. I might lose my farm!" Applejack was apparently not happy about this. But who could blame her?

     "I'm sure Celestia has good reasons for this." Twilight calmly replied, trying to sooth Applejack's anger.

     "I'm sure you're right sugercube, and sorry for lashing out." AJ said back apologetically. "It's just that you think she would give us the reasons for these changes."

     "Has she given any explanation at all?" Twilight asked.

     "Well, she did say something about maintaining harmony in Equestria, but if you ask me, it's doing the exact opposite!" Appljack slammed her hoof down at the last part for emphasis.

     Twilight thought about what her friend said, and throughout the conversation they weren't quite listening to what the unicorn was saying. Then they turned their attention to the speaker. He was a unicorn stallion with navy blue fur and a jet black mane.

     "Celestia is stealing our freedoms one by one!" The stallion railed "How long will it be before our liberty is gone! Before our freedoms are stripped away like winter strips trees of their leaves. How long!?" Don't you all see it!? Celestia is becoming a tyrant!" The stallion pounded his hoof on the podium he was standing behind.

     Twilight couldn't take it anymore, she spread her wings and took off. She hovered in the air and shouted, "How dare you speak that way of the princess!" She was furious.

     "How dare I speak the truth!?" Replied the stallion, more irritated than angry because somepony interrupted his speech. "She is robbing us of our liberty. If she isn't a tyrant then what is she!?"

     Twilight calmed down then turned towards the crowd, "Princess Celestia has ruled benevolently over Equestria for millennia! And protected our land from threats unimaginable! Is our trust too much to ask?"

     "And just who are you!?" The unicorn shouted.

     Twilight turned towards him, spread her wings and announced, "I am Princess Twilight Sparkle! And I have every mind to report you to the princess herself!"

     "Well of course you have nothing but good things to say about Celestia! You're royalty!" The stallion spat, "Hark to my voice everypony! Celestia is gradually oppressing us! Now who will you all listen to?! A common pony, such as yourselves, who only wishes that he and his fellow ponies have their freedom back? Or the princess's lap dog!?" He finished shooting his hoof in the now stunned Twilight's direction. And the crowd cheered. Much to Twilight's surprise. And she just floated back down in sheer shock. "Let's send a message to Princess Celestia that she will never forget!" the crowd started cheering louder and the unicorn powered up his magic and zapped a nearby banner of Celestia, bursting it into flames. The crowd went into mob mentality and they started to destroy everything that had to do with Celestia. Banners, posters, statues. The monument of Celestia in the center of town soon had ropes around it and it was slowly being pulled down. The unicorn who started the riot gathered his three companions and, using their magic in unison, blasted the foundation of the monolith with a multicolored beam. And it toppled over and fragmented on the hard ground. Some ponies had to quickly move to not be crushed.

     Twilight almost panicked. She quickly looked for Applejack but, she was gone. Lost in the crowd. Then she turned towards Spike who was standing next to her the whole time and commanded "Spike! write a letter to Celestia informing her of the situation! This is unbelievable!"

     "I already did it!" Spike announced, jumping on Twilight's back after she beckoned him.

     "We have to get to safety! There's no telling what the crowd will do." She said as she galloped away from the rampaging mob.

     "There she is! Celestia's pet! Get her!" Twilight heard being shouted and she saw at least a dozen ponies charging towards her, all with malice in their eyes, and snarling teeth. Twilight broke into full gallop for her life. She teleported herself on the other side of the charging ponies. They spun around and continued the chase.

     "Hold on Spike!" Twilight panted, she flapped her wings and rose into the air. A unicorn that was chasing her, groaned as she powered her horn then screamed as a narrow beam of magic shot from her horn and clipped Twilight's right wing.

     Twilight screeched in pain and began to plummet. She groaned and tried to stabilize her descent and a terrified Spike clutching at her mane wasn't helping things. She tumbled into a tree breaking and snapping branches in her fall, but at least the tree made the trip to the ground nonfatal. She and Spike fell from the crown and hit the ground hard and Twilight felt a snap in her left wing and sharp, excruciating pain. She shrieked for a split second then clamped her jaw and eyes shut, like a bear trap, and growled trying to will the pain to go away while tears were rolling down her face.

     Spike was rattled, but unharmed and he shouted "Twilight! they're coming!" while pointing in their direction.

     Adrenaline soon coursed through the alicorn's body, masking the pain. Twilight came to and saw the group still galloping towards her. The unicorn who shot her down, powered her horn again and another magic bolt blasted towards her. Twilight noticed the incoming blast and met it with a blast of her own. Naturally, Twilight's magic was much more powerful than the other unicorn's and it overcame her's and blasted her back unconscious. The alicorn struggled to get back up, she grimaced and shot another blast at a charging earth pony, knocking him unconscious. She shot another then another.

     "Run Spike! They don't want you!" Twilight ordered.

     "I won't leave you!" Spike barked, brandishing a clubsized stick, ready to defend his best friend whom he saw as a sister.

     There were about seven ponies left when Twilight saw a rainbow streak bolt from the sky and slam into the flank of one pony sending him into another and then into another. They flew about twenty feet and one crashed through the window of a store, the other slammed into a support beam, cracking the wood, and the other smashed into the wall of aforementioned store.

     Rainbow Dash skidded to a halt on the ground, smoke blowing from her nostrils. She was enraged. She turned towards the group of ponies that intended harm on her friend and they were stopped in their tracks. She had a look of pure rage on her face. She growled, gritted her teeth, and shot forward, planting a hoof on a pony's face, sending her to the ground. She went for the next and grabbed his head by the ears and smashed his face with her forehead. The rest galloped off.

     Meanwhile, Fluttershy came to Twilight's aid and explained that they saw what happened from the air and came to help as fast as they could.

     Rainbow Dash wiped the last pony's blood from her mane and joined Twilight and Fluttershy. "Let's get ya outta here." Rainbow Dash ordered, calming down from her rage.

     "Oh, we must be careful. She's hurt very badly." Fluttershy replied in her soft voice.

     "Yeah, I know what a broken wing feels like." RD shot back.

     "I can walk just fine girls." Twilight informed as she slowly stood up, her body shivering from mild shock. "I can't go back to my house, I'm a target now. They'll look for me there."

     "You can come stay at my cottage." Fluttershy suggested with a smile, "I can take care of you there and you'll be safe."

     "That sounds like a great idea Fluttershy. I'll do that." Twilight gratefully,but weakly replied.

     Rainbow Dash swiveled her head, "We better get moving, more will probably come. It's like everypony in town has gone crazy!"

     They trotted away towards the Everfree Forest.

     Hours later in the center of town, was a disaster area, smashed signs and crumbled statues could be seen everywhere, windows were smashed through and small fires were set, total destruction. The riot was still going strong. The four unicorns leading the revolt were talking around a crude fire made in a trash can. The leader, whose name is Bronze Buckler, was making plans to continue their crusade, then he heard a shout from above.

     "Bronze!" A pegasus shouted. "They're coming!" The pegasus turned and gazed out to what he was calling attention to. A military force about 100 strong. All adorning royal combat armor. Which is much different than in the show. Instead of being the brass colored bronze, it was gunmetal grey steel. The armor was spiked and it covered their entire bodies from head to hoof. The helmet, or shaffron, was the most defining feature, instead of a crest it had a long, thick blade running down the center of their face and outward. And Two blades that start behind the ears and run underneath their face and outward a few inches. Since ponies can't hold swords and shields in their hooves, they use their heads. They slice and stab at their opponents using their heads and their front hooves have spikes and small blades for kicking. Their last weapon is a lance that's connected to their flank that is raised up to be perpendicular to the ground when marching and dropped down to be parallel to the ground when ready for combat. It was designed to be used only once. The soldier would charge and run the lance through what he was told to stab then rear back and the spear would snap off at the base so the soldier can move around easier and not be encumbered by the long piece of wood. A royal soldier was truly an intimidating sight.

     "Everypony!" Bronze shouted, everypony listened, "The hour has come! Ready your hooves for battle! Remember, freedom comes with a price! Are you willing to pay that price?!" The mob acknowledged with a shout of affirmation. He continued, "I know I am. I am also willing to stand up for what I believe in! Even in the face of military power! Are you!?" The ponies agreed again with a shout. Bronze pointed his hoof towards the army and shouted, "Then behold! The army of our tyrant Celestia approaches! Now is your chance to fight for your freedom!"

     The mob cheered, and howled as loud as they could. The soldiers were already marching down the street, lances at the ready.

     "Something's wrong." A royal captain thought as he lead his soldiers down a street. "They usually scatter by now." He knew tonight would end badly.

Chapter 3

     Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Spike and Twilight Sparkle made it to Fluttershy's cottage without incident, since everypony in town was busy wreaking havoc in the name of freedom. Fluttershy held the door open to her home and let the group pass inside. Twilight was still shivering, she had never experienced a broken bone before, let alone a wing. Fluttershy flew in and motioned Twilight to the couch. There were a few woodland creatures scampering around Fluttershy's cottage, but none got in the way.

    Twilight climbed on the sofa, laid down, on her stomach of course, and tucked her legs underneath her body. She craned her head around and studied her mangled wings. Her right wing had a hole the size of a golf ball and her left wing was broken at the middle, it hung limp like a broken tree branch. Twilight winced in pain. Good thing it wasn't a compound fracture or the ponies would've had an emergency on their hooves.

     "That's pretty bad," Rainbow Dash chimed in, "You're not flying for a while, that's for sure. I've broken my wing twice. It hurts like crazy." She flapped her wings a few times.

     "Don't worry Twilight," Fluttershy said reassuringly, "I'll nurse you back to health."

     "Thanks girls, for helping me back there," Twilight said, "I don't know what they would've done to me, if you hadn't of shown up."

     "What else are friends for!" Rainbow Dash replied with an enthusiastic smile.

     "I just wish we could've done it without violence." Twilight said back, looking down.

     "It had to be done. They were going to do much worse to you." Rainbow Dash replied, now with a much more stern look on her face.

     Fluttershy came in the room with a steaming bowl of soup. Nopony noticed she left. She handed it to Twilight "Here you go, this will help you get better."

     "Thanks, Fluttershy," Twilight took it with her magic and sipped it.

     "Wait," Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow, "Can't you just use your magic to heal your wings?"

     Twilight put the bowl down and answered, "Well, yes, but I don't know the right healing spell by heart. I've never had to heal a broken wing before. Or a broken bone for that matter. I'm sure the spells are in my library; but I'll have to find the right books. And I can't show my face back there for a while."

     "I'll get 'em!" Rainbow Dash announced, "You're in no condition to travel anyway. Just tell me the books you need and I'll be back faster than lightning!" She took a quick lap around the living room to emphasize her statement.

     "I'm not sure about the exact book, so just try to find any books that have the words 'healing spells' on them. And I really appreciate this Rainbow Dash." Twilight said, with a grateful smile on her face, "Just, please hurry, these are starting to hurt, very badly." Fluttershy was already getting a splint ready.

     "This might hurt just a teensy little bit." Fluttershy nervously informed Twilight as she reached for her left wing.

     Twilight winced, "You better hurry Dash."

     Rainbow Dash tightened the strap of a satchel on her flank then saluted, "I'm on it!" then dashed out.

     Rainbow Dash took to the skies, soaring through clouds to Ponyville. She was able to get a bird's eye view of the town and she saw all the destruction and chaos that was occurring down below. "This is insane." Rainbow Dash thought to herself, "What would drive these ponies to do this? I know I will stay loyal to my princess no matter what!" Rainbow Dash remembered the element she represented, Loyalty, and she planned to stay true to that element.

     She dropped in altitude when she saw Twilight's house; but something was wrong. Very wrong. An angry mob was gathered there and they surrounded the library, some of the ponies carrying torches. "What's going on here!" Rainbow Dash shouted at the crowd, hovering just a few feet above them.

     "The 'princess' is standing with Celestia!" an earth pony mare shouted back, saying 'princess' in a mocking tone.

     "What do you plan on doing here!" Rainbow Dash yelled, getting angry.

     "You'll see! If she isn't with us, she's against us!" the mare grabbed a torch with her teeth and hurled it through a window, shattering the glass, the crowd cheered.

     "What do you think you're doing!" Rainbow Dash shot down like a lightning bolt and planted a hoof on the mare's face and delivered a crushing blow. Another stallion in the crowd, bellowed and lunged at Dash and tackled her and the two hurled through the window the torch was thrown through. Rainbow Dash's back shattered what glass remained, pieces making small lacerations in her back and wings. They hit the wooden floor hard, Rainbow Dash grunted, the stallion was still on top, he raised his head then brought it down with crushing force. His forehead caving Rainbow Dash's face in. She could feel the bones in her muzzle crunch under the force. She let out a shout of pain, blood gushing from her nose and mouth. Involuntary tears welled up. She was dazed for a split second.

     The torch had caught a bookcase on fire and it plumed out magnificent flames. They distracted the earth pony just long enough for Rainbow Dash to get a front hoof on his jaw and a rear hoof under him to kick him off. The stallion grunted in pain from the hook and rolled across the floor from the kick. He quickly jumped to his hooves. Rainbow Dash staggered up, still in serious pain, but adrenaline and endorphins were being injected through her blood stream. The stallion quickly grabbed a book and chucked it in Rainbow Dash's direction, smacking her right in the mouth. She yelped from the sharp pain and spit a blood soaked tooth out. She snarled with a saliva, blood mixture dripping from her open jaws. Her eyes ablaze with the rage and death. The stallion's bravery was leaving him and fear was gripping his heart. The fire was spreading, casting an eerie, orange light.

     Rainbow Dash powered her wings up like a jet engine and shot forward, burying her shoulder in the stallion's chest, splitting his sternum in two. They slammed into a bookcase, this time Rainbow Dash was the dominant. Books fell from the case from the force and some books from the top shelf dropped down and pounded the stallion's and Rainbow Dash's heads. The stallion's back was now bruised all over and tightening in pain. The stallion groaned and Rainbow Dash grunted from the raining books. But adrenaline made Dash completely forget about pain and she head butted the stallion's face multiple times. Hearing sickening crunches with each blow. The stallion's exposed teeth and cheek bones cut Dash on the final blow and she flew back, breathing heavily, smoke blowing from her nostrils. Her head and mane now soaked with his blood and her own blood soaking her fur on her body. The stallion drooped to the ground in a stupor. His face destroyed and gushing blood.

     Rainbow Dash flew to the top of the bookcase and pulled it down on his body with a loud crash. Books scattered everywhere and the fire was engulfing the entire library.

     The adrenaline was starting to wear off and Rainbow Dash was growing woozy. She finally remembered why she was there and she flew from bookcase to burning bookcase muttering, "Healing spells," Through her mutilated jaw over and over. She was growing faint, then she finally found the books she was looking for. She just grabbed a few and threw them in her satchel. She started coughing, blood and spittle shooting from her mouth, splatting on the ground. The coughing was very painful and tears soon ran from her eyes. "Have to get out." She told herself weakly. The fire was too much and the heat and smoke was getting to her.

     "Help." Rainbow Dash's ears perked up. "Help." She heard again, a very faint cry she almost didn't hear. She looked down the stairs she flew up and saw the stallion trapped under the bookcase she crushed him with. She saw his mutilated face, a small pool of blood, saliva and tears was under his head. "Help me." he moaned, raising his hoof ever so slightly. Tears were flowing from his bloodshot eyes.

     Rainbow Dash paused, "Help him?" she thought. She didn't know what to do and the pain and smoke were playing with her mind. She started to go for him but a blazing support beam fell from the ceiling, cutting her off. She could've flown over it but...she didn't. She stopped and simply looked at the trapped stallion. The fire soon grew to him and the flames started to lick his hide.

     He moaned in pain from the heat. the fire soon caught his fur and he burst in flames. Dying, bloodcurdling screams erupted from his mutilated face. He was slowly burning...slowly dying. His pain was too excruciating to even watch. Rainbow Dash turned her head away, not before seeing his eyes. Blame and suffering filled his eyes before death drained the life from them. Rainbow Dash flew to the top floor and straight out a closed window, shattering the glass, receiving more cuts and lacerations on her body. She was now a bloody mess. The endorphins wore off and she groaned in pain as she was flying.

     The sky was growing dark. Rainbow Dash soon gained enough altitude to see the town from a bird's eye view again and she was shocked by what she saw. Many small fires dotted Ponyville and destruction painted the town. But what shocked her most were the soldiers marching down the streets with ready weapons.

     A royal captain lead his troops down a street, gazing upon the rioting mob, with a small amount of uncertainty in the back of his mind. He dismissed it and shouted in a commanding tone "Company halt!"

     A loud "Aye!" erupted from the soldiers and they all stopped and stomped their hooves in unison making a very intimidating pound.

     The captain shouted again, "Forward lance down!"

     Another loud and deep "Aye!" sounded form the soldiers and the spears on the front line of soldiers creaked and swung down. The spears stopped with a loud clang, their sharp iron tips pointed in the mobs direction, hungry.

     The captain shouted again, "Forward march!"

     Anther loud, "Aye!" followed and the soldiers marched forward, pounding their hooves. They were marching in a phalanx.

     The crowd was soon losing it's morale and the cheers were growing quieter and quieter. Then, Bronze Buckler made his speech. When he ended with, "Now is your chance to fight for your freedom!" The crowd was re moralized, they cheered even louder than before and started to charge the soldiers, stopping about thirty yards away to throw things at them. Rocks, sticks, anything they could find. The unicorns in the crowd started blasting magic at them, but most were untrained in combat magic and the blasts just bounced off the soldiers' armor. One blast clipped a soldier in the knee, a place unprotected by steel, and he grunted and stumbled over he was soon marching back in formation, but that small sign of weakness invigorated the mob. They grew even bolder and moved closer in, chucking anything they could get their hooves on. The soldiers just continued marching, as ordered, wincing from the rocks bouncing off their armor.

     Bronze Buckler and his three companions opened a trunk that was on the platform and they gazed at its contents. It contained dozens of glass bottles, all filled with oil, with tissue paper sprouting from their necks: Molotov cocktails. Bronze grinned, menacingly and each unicorn picked up a few with their magic and made their way towards the marching army.

     The captain was growing worried and his worries were only enhanced when he saw something hurdling towards his battle line. Something small and apparently on fire, it landed on the ground a few feet from his lines and a five foot radius of the cobblestone road erupted in an orange and red inferno. The front line almost panicked and stopped for a split second before the captain railed on them to stand their ground. More flew in and landed amongst the soldiers, flowers of fire bloomed from the body of soldiers and the screams of the burning filled the air.

     The crowd cheered and howled in a triumphant shout. Soldiers were wailing from the napalm covering their feet and the fire heating their steel shells. The soldiers were on the verge of panic when the captain shouted, "All charge!" The soldiers didn't need to be told twice and the spears were closing in on the crowd fast.

     Loud battle cries erupted from the lips of the charging soldiers and the cheers of the rebels soon grew into screams of panic and death. The crowd tried its best to back up but so many undisciplined, unorganized ponies proved to just clog the street. The first line hit the mob with sever prejudice, their lances goring the ponies and the screams of the dying were heard. The first line separated themselves from their lances and jumped and lunged using their helmet blades to hack away at the frightened and panicking mob. The battle cries of the bloodthirsty soldiers and dying and panicked screams of the citizens made a cacophony of violence, played by an orchestra of death.

     The soldiers were slaughtering the citizens. The blood ran in rivers.

     The captain, who was a unicorn, used his magic to strike ponies dead. He was over taken with bloodlust and he ordered his soldiers to chase them down and cut them to pieces. He charged forward and grabbed a panicking mare earth pony and brought his forward head blade down in a lethal head butt. the blade passed straight through the mare's skull and the blade protruded out the back of the mare's head. The mare's jaw went lax and her eyes rolled back. Blood sprayed form the wound, painting the captain's face. He snarled and pulled the blade out and spat out some blood that made it's way into his mouth, letting the innocent body slump over in death.

     The fires were growing fast, too fast. buildings soon caught ablaze. Some of the soldiers who were caught by the cocktails were left behind from the rampaging army and were screaming in a living Hell. The citizens were panicking and galloping for their lives in every possible direction. Bronze and his ponies were still chucking Molotovs at the soldiers, killing more in a slow painful manner. Half the town was soon ablaze and the scent of death filled the air.

     Rainbow Dash was watching everything from above. So much emotional pain assaulted her soul. And tears were pouring from her eyes, the salty liquid stinging her wounded, blood soaked face. She wanted to help but she knew that was a lost cause and she would most likely be killed. She turned and flew as fast as she could to Fluttershy's cottage.

     So much pain, so much death.

Chapter 4

     "Ouch! Careful!" Twilight Sparkle yelped, while Fluttershy finished putting her wing in a splint and strapping it to her flank to keep it immobile.

     "Oh! I'm so sorry." Fluttershy said, "Did it hurt too bad?"

     "Oh, no, it's alright," Twilight replied, "You were doing your best. I sure hope Rainbow Dash gets back soon." Twilight gazed out the window, hoping to see her friend zipping towards her with a rainbow in her wake; but all she saw was the sun setting. "What's taking her so long?"

     "I hope nothing bad happened." Fluttershy said, with a worried look, "It's not like her to be slow at things."

     The sun finally set, and the evening stars shown their light. And the moon blazed silver, shining the night. Then a thump was heard at the door.

     "Did you hear that?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy nodded. Another thump.

     "Someone's at the door!" Fluttershy flew over and opened the door to her home.

     In staggered a beaten and broken Rainbow Dash, who collapsed from exhaustion and blood loss. At least they thought it was Rainbow Dash, her mangled body was almost unrecognizable.

     "Oh my goodness!" Fluttershy flew back a few feet, covering her face with her hooves.

     "Dash! Are you alright!" Twilight shouted, jumping from the couch to help her friend, pain shooting through her back.

     Rainbow Dash just groaned. She was cut all over her body, with pieces of glass still caught in her flesh. Her beautiful, rainbow mane was now a single shade of red. Her face was mutilated, many teeth were missing and her muzzle smashed in, saliva, blood and mucus was still dripping from her gaping jaw. Her eyes were bloodshot from smoke, and tears were still flowing from the things she saw. Her back and wings had multiple lacerations as if she was flogged. Rainbow Dash hadn't noticed but her hooves and legs were covered in burns. Half of her body and her whole head was painted a disgusting red. The blood was beginning to clot and it was starting to get crusty.

     Rainbow Dash groaned one more time then passed out.

     All of Ponyville was soon ablaze. Building after building, burning.

     "I have to get home! I have to get home!" Pinkie Pie whimpered to herself, she was screaming it in her head though. She was galloping for her life, trying to get back to the bakery. At least there she could pull the bed covers over her head and pretend everything was fine. She saw what the soldiers did, she had never seen so much blood before. She didn't plan on joining a revolution today, she was just trying to pick up some things for Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Pinkie Pie's short attention span got the best of her and she was cheering for the rebellion with the rest of them. But, everything just went...wrong. It completely turned around with her. She was so happy a few minutes ago, now she was terrified for her life. Her immature mind thought there was going to be a party. And imagine her surprise when the soldiers charged.

     She rounded a corner just to be blinded by the light of a burning building, she then noticed that all the buildings around her were ablaze. "That's bad, that's bad, fire's bad." Pinkie Pie told herself very quickly while turning around and galloping again. The screams of the dying and bellows of the slaughterers assaulted her ears. And she saw about twenty ponies running her way, armor clad soldiers on their heels. Then a building collapsed from being roasted and half the roof fell in the way of the panicking citizens, hot ash and debris flew in every direction. The ponies had to stop. The lead ones attempted to climb over. Pinkie Pie's vision was cut off from them and all she heard were the screams and wails of unbearable pain and death, the howls and war cries of the blood thirsty soldiers and the hacks and splattering noises of steel against flesh and blood splatting on the ground. Pinkie Pie couldn't take it, she sobbed hysterically and galloped for her life. Tears flowed from her eyes as she galloped and galloped her way home. Through every blood soaked street and past every blazing building.

     Until she, at last, reached her destination. What she found was not what she hoped for. The entire bakery was engulfed in an inferno. Flames of red, orange and white danced in and out of Pinkie Pie's home. The heat radiating from it could melt stones. Pinkie Pie cried harder and harder. She collapsed in a miserable state, her fur and mane were filthy from dirt, mud and ash. Her hooves drenched in the blood of the innocent, from the roads she ran across. She gazed up at her burning home, all hope and happiness left her mind. All that was left was pain, nothing but pain. She sat there, breathing in irregularly timed gasps, and a waterfall of tears flowing from her bloodshot eyes. She could here the fire devouring her home and the creaking and popping of the wood as it slowly burned away into ashes. The orange light cast an ominous glow over Pinkie Pie. The sounds of the fire, mixed with the cacophony of the dying and killing made a symphony of insanity. The music of destruction and death played in Pinkie's ear. Pinkie knew everyone in Ponyville; and with every pony killed, a good friend was stripped away from her. Despair and misery gripped her soul tighter and tighter until it crumbled. The sheer amount of emotional and psychological trauma Pinkie was going through assaulted and attacked her weak and fragile mind. Until, she stopped sobbing, sniffed hard a few times, then smiled ever so slightly. She drooped her head down and stared at the ground in a trance. She let the music play, and play. Pinkie pie's mane was now straight and pulled down by gravity, instead of the poofy, fun style it usually was in. Her smile grew ever so slightly, she liked this song.

     "Stop!" A very loud and regal sounding shout was heard from the night sky, and a wave of purplish, black magic energy engulfed the town. Everypony immediately halted and brought there hooves to their ears and shut their eyes as if in pain. But No pony made a sound. Everypony collapsed on the ground, still clutching at their ears. Everypony forgot what they were doing and slowly opened their eyes. "What is the meaning of this!" the shout was heard again. The entire town shot their eyes upward, to see a magnificent and extremely angry princess Luna.

     Luna gazed at the sight before her. She saw all the death, blood, fire and destruction. She was appalled and shocked. She hasn't seen destruction like this for millennia. "What drove you all to such madness!" She shouted again. Luna was hovering on her magnificent wings, eyes glowing white and magical mane flowing in the night. She was in the moon's path so she her form from the ponies perspective was a sinister silhouette. She powered up her horn for another blast, she grimaced and moaned and another black wave overtook the town. Instead this wave was different. The first wave of magic was a taming wave. to control the ponies from their panic and bloodlust. The next was a peace wave, to make sure they wouldn't fight anymore. She flew down to wear most of the soldiers were and shouted again, "Who is the captain of this company!"

     "I am," A unicorn stepped forth, his armor stained red and blades dripping with blood. His complexion, even under the helmet, was very grim and remorseful.

     Luna's voice was now quivering with rage, "Who authorized you to order these men to use lethal force?" Her lower jaw was shivering and the muscles in her face tightened, she was angry. Her eyes still glowed a bright white.

     "No one, your majesty. This order was my own." The captain bowed his head, his voice was unsuccessfully trying to hide his fear.

     Luna gritted her teeth, then began to float upwards, then shouted "All royal soldiers here, will report to Canterlot, to Princess Celestia, for war crimes, and will receive just punishment there!" she hovered back down down to the captain. She leaned in towards him, her muzzle just an inch away from his, her eyes still glowing a snow white. She hissed through clenched teeth in a most frightening tone, "Gather your men and prepare them to move out, now."

     "But, your majesty." the captain pleaded.

     "Now!" Luna howled.

     The captain scampered away and began issuing orders.

     Luna flew back up towards the sky and studied the scenery. It made her heart sink. It's a good thing Spike informed her sister of this. Since Luna was the keeper of the night, she was sent to find out what was going on. Luna knew she had to help the frightened citizens.

     Rainbow Dash groaned. She was awake now. She slowly pulled her eyelids open, then noticed her pain was gone, well not all of it, but most of it. She got up from the bed she was sleeping in. She guessed it was Fluttershy's. Rainbow Dash knew she was still in the cottage, but she didn't remember falling asleep. She gazed out the window to see the bright and early, morning sun. Then she felt her face, It was...healed. She flapped her wings and flew to a mirror. She was clean! Wait no. Rainbow Dash squinted and looked closer in the mirror. Her fur was stained, a very slight pink. She gasped, then thought that her friends probably couldn't wash it out because of her wounds. She'll get it later. She walked out of the bedroom and into the living room of the cottage.

     "Oh! your awake! Are you alright? what happened?" Fluttershy zipped up to Rainbow Dash and assaulted her with questions.

     "Hey Dash! Are you alright?" Twilight Sparkle asked from across the room. Her wings healed.

     "I'm fine guys." Rainbow Dash groggily answered back. She was still half asleep.

     "What in Equestria happened over there?" Twilight asked.

     Rainbow Dash looked down, a very grim expression on her face. She explained everything that happened as best as she could remember it. She couldn't give the details most of the time because she was half dazed from getting her face smashed in. When the part about the trapped stallion came up, Rainbow Dash paused. Reality it her, she never thought about it during the night. But she finally realized that, she killed somepony.

     "You ok?" Twilight asked.

     Rainbow Dash just shook her head slightly and said, "I'm fine, just spaced out a little bit." She then lied and said that he escaped. She couldn't tell her friends that she killed somepony.

     After She finished her story, Twilight sat in shock and Fluttershy started to cry. "That's awful! Innocent ponies? Killed?" Twilight asked, tears in her eyes.

     Rainbow Dash just nodded. A very solemn expression on her face. "Thanks for fixing me up."

     Twilight cracked a smile through held back tears and said, "You brought the right books back. All the credit is yours." She then drooped her head down. A single tear fell and landed on the wooden floor. What was the world coming to?

Chapter 5

     Rainbow Dash lounged on a cloud. Staring up at the clear sky. She sighed. She had been up on that cloud for over an hour, thinking, just thinking. Twilight had left for Canterlot, at princess Luna's request. She reflected that night in her head. She remembered the fight, the pain, she remembered him calling for help. She recalled going to help him, but "the beam fell in my way!" Rainbow Dash thought to herself, she bit her lip right after thinking that. She had a face full of guilt. She knew very well she couldv'e flown over it if she wanted to, but she just stood there, and watched. Rainbow Dash's breaths were growing heavier and faster. She watched him die, she watched him burn to death in agony and misery. She looked him in the eyes as he died, she saw the blame, she saw the pleading for help, she saw the horrible pain in those dying eyes. Tears were building up in Rainbow Dash's eyes. Remorse claiming her soul. She remembered abandoning him, leaving him to burn, leaving him to die. His blood was on her hooves. She was responsible for his death, and she knew it very well.

     Rainbow Dash covered her face and rolled over on her stomach and began to sob. She felt so much regret. The bright sun did nothing to aid her in her sorrow.

     "What!?" Princess Celestia gasped in disbelief.

     "Almost all of Ponyville lies in ashes, sister, hundreds of ponies are dead including twenty seven soldiers." Princess Luna bowed her head in sadness. "The soldiers responsible are reporting here to be tried for war crimes."

     "I assume I will preside over the trials." Celestia stated in a very serious tone.

     "Yes," that was all the response Luna could give. Twilight Sparkle was at Luna's side. She returned with Luna at her request.

     Princess Celestia looked from her sister to Twilight. She then turned and paced, "We have to ensure that this never happens again."

     "What do you propose?" Luna asked.

     "A garrison, in every city. To stop the riots before they start." Celestia said coldly.

     "What? Do you realize what this will do? How much it will cost?" Luna argued, "The citizens of Equestria will not accept this willingly."

     "What else will you have me to do?" Celestia darted her head in Luna's direction, "The news of this slaughter will spread throughout the land. The ponies will retaliate much worse than the Ponyville uprising. We must stop these riots before they start." Celestia put emphasis on the word before.

     "Military force will only increase the problem, Celestia." Luna pleaded.

     "No! It will solve it." Celestia nearly shouted back. The pressures of running an unhappy kingdom were getting to her. She sighed, then said calmly, "Sister, I only want what's best for Equestria, what's best for our kingdom. Just trust me."

     Princess Luna looked down, contemplating what her sister said. "I hope you know what you're doing Celestia." Then turned and walked off.

     Twilight, who had been silently observing, followed suit and turned to leave with Luna, "Wait, Twilight." Celestia called.

     Twilight turned towards Celestia, "Yes, Princess?" She asked.

     "Twilight, my most faithful student, you know I would never do anything to hurt the ponies of Equestria." Celestia stated with a smile, while walking towards Twilight.

     "Of course, Princess Celestia." Twilight returned, a little surprised.

     "I know it may look like I'm being harsh, but just have faith in me Twilight. Everything I am doing is for the good of Equestria." Celestia said, now walking beside Twilight down a palace hall.

     "You know I trust you completely Princess. I will always stay loyal to you, no matter what." Twilight answered affirmatively, "And I know my friends will too."

     "Good, because now is a time more than ever that I need help, you see, ruling a kingdom isn't easy. And doing it for over a thousand years makes one weary, wouldn't you think so?" Celestia mused.

     "Yes it would." Twilight chuckled, Celestia smiled back. Then she asked, "What do you want me to do?"

     "I need you to ensure the loyalty of the people." Celestia commanded, a bit more serious now. "These riots are getting out of hand, ponies are dying. We cannot let what happened in Ponyville to happen again. I need you to go with the royal envoys all across Equestria and make sure the ponies understand that what I'm doing is for the best."

     "I'll do my best Princess." Twilight answered, she looked down in sadness, thinking about what happened in Ponyville. All those ponies dead, many more destitute.

     Celestia lowered her head to be closer to Twilight's, "I'm sorry about what happened to your home and your town. But your place is here now. Royal quarters have been made for you and your assistant, Spike."

     Twilight looked up at Celestia, wonderment and shock in her eyes. "Wh-what?"

     "You're a princess Twilight, and you must assume the responsibilities of one." Celestia answered. Twilight, just thought about what Celestia said, then nodded.

     The 3rd Royal Infantry, Company A marched wearily on the road to Canterlot. Most of them with red tinted armor and blood clotted blades. Half of them had burns covering their legs and hooves. Some soldiers were staggering from the severity of their burns. They all were thinking of the previous night. No pony spoke, even if they were allowed to they wouldn't have. Each soldier bore an enormous amount of guilt and regret. It was the beginning of the day and the seventy or so soldiers left had a long trek ahead of them to Canterlot.

     "Aren't you guys done yet!" Bronze Buckler shouted to his three unicorns, through a masked face. He was growing impatient.

     "Just about!" One of the three answered back. The four unicorns, who were the same four that ambushed the convoy headed to Baltimare, and the same ones that instigated the revolt of Ponyville, were preparing another ambush, much bigger than the last. The were on a road, soaking it with sesame oil. Alot of sesame oil. They were spreading out the last jugs. They left Ponyville after Princess Luna, halted everything, and they were preparing ever since. They were ambushing the soldiers who slaughtered the innocents at Ponyville. They had to pay for what they did.

     "Hurry up! They'll be here soon and I don't want them to catch us with our hooves up our butts!" Bronze ordered, not trying to be funny at all. "And make sure all the bottles are hidden! And get the Molotovs, spears and traps ready!" The unicorns did what they were told. Bronze and his rebels lied in wait for the marching convoy. They were up on a hill over looking the road, behind bushes. A forest was about fifty yards away and thy had a trick up their sleeves.

     The soldiers had been marching for hours, every single one of them silently wallowing in guilt and regret. Then about fifty yards away a tree fell over blocking the road. Every soldier heard the creaking and crunching of the falling timber and the loud crash when it hit the ground. All the soldiers thought, "That was weird."

     "Company halt!" The captain ordered in his commanding voice. He was staring at the fallen tree wondering what to do about it. The couldn't walk over it, it was too big.

     "Aye!" The soldiers responded, making a loud pound on the dirt road.

     One of the soldiers sniffed, then sniffed again. He glanced to the soldier next to him and sniffed once more. The two soldiers sniffed. They smelt something, something odd. Then the unthinkable happened. The ground beneath their feet blazed forth an inferno of unbearable heat, and the soldiers felt as if they were engulfed in the bowels of Hell. Screams of anguish and panic filled the air. Every single soldier panicked and began to swing their blades around attempting to break free of the orderly column they were forced to march in all day. Some catching one another with the bloodstained blades. Four spears, guided by magic, were heading straight for the captain. He didn't notice the incoming projectiles because his legs were on fire. The spears skewered him all over his body. One made it in between his flanchard and crupper, goring his flank, blood spewed out, two went in between the plates of his crinet, impaling his neck, more blood gushed out and the final one went straight through his eye socket, gouging through the eye and into the slab of grey matter called, the brain. Death was immediate. The bloody, armored pin cushion toppled to the ground, those sane enough to notice were instantly demoralized. More molotovs were chucked at the soldiers, some breaking on their steel shells, turning the unlucky few into metal covered torches. The screams and wails of the soldiers were ear splitting and horrifying. If anypony could hear them. All the soldiers scattered, most were on fire and burning to death, but still screaming nonetheless. The scent of cooking flesh filled the air.

     The next day, Fluttershy was caring for her animals, still sad about what happened but what was she to do? "Here you go, plenty for all of you." Fluttershy said, scattering nuts on the ground, feeding a family of squirrels. She sniffled, remembering what happened two days ago, she remembered seeing Rainbow Dash's mangled, bloody body stagger and collapse into her home. She tried to hold back tears.

     "Hey, Fluttershy!" Applejack called. A few yards away from her friend.

     Fluttershy's train of thought was broken from the call of her friend, "Umm, yes, Applejack? What is it?" Fluttershy said while hovering over to her friend.

     "Was I interrupting something?" Applejack asked.

     "Umm no, no, it's fine. Do you need something?" Fluttershy softly replied.

     "Well, I was wondering if you knew where Rainbow Dash is. I can't find her anywhere. The clouds are building up and it ain't supposed to rain today." Applejack coolly stated.

     Fluttershy was somewhat shocked, and tears welled up in her eyes, "How can you think of the weather after what happened!"

     Applejack sighed, she thought about that night, she left when she saw the soldiers marching down the road, she agreed with the unicorn talking but, she knew when to quit. And she was glad she did. "Listen, sugercube," She put a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder,  "what happened that night was horrible and awful but, there's nothing we can do about it. The best thing to do is to just go on with our lives. I know it seems harsh and disrespectful, but it's the truth."

     Fluttershy looked down in thought, honesty was Applejack's policy, hence her element. She looked back up and said, "You're right, I haven't seen Rainbow Dash since early yesterday. She left before Twilight did. She didn't say where she was going, she just left. I can check her house if you want."

     "I'd really appreciate it Fluttershy." Applejack replied with a smile. The two went their separate ways, AJ went back to her farm and Fluttershy went to check on Rainbow Dash.

     In Cloudsdale Rainbow Dash was strolling the streets, looking for something to take the horrible guilt away. She tried distracting herself by performing stunts, that didn't work. Nothing worked. She was wallowing in remorse, head drooped down, and just walking. That's all she was doing, until something caught her eye. She looked up from her depressed state and saw a poster on a window, it read "Join the Royal Air Force Today!" And it had a picture of five armored pegisi flying in formation. And Rainbow Dash saw that she was looking at the window of a recruiter's office. "That's it!" Rainbow Dash thought, "I'll join the military! They'll put me through so many drills and so much work, I'll forget everything!" Rainbow Dash sighed, then walked in.

Chapter 6

     "Umm, Rainbow Dash? Are you there?" Fluttershy, knocked on Rainbow Dash's door again. No answer. She knocked once more. Fluttershy sighed. "Where is she?" She thought as she looked into Rainbow Dash's window. Fluttershy saw no signs of her friend, the house just seemed abandoned.

     Fluttershy thought about where to search next, "Maybe she's in Cloudsdale." She flapped her wings and headed for the floating city.

     Princess Celestia stood upon a balcony in her palace. She gazed her eyes across her royal capital of Canterlot, admiring it. She always enjoyed the view of the city in the morning. She just rose the sun and it was radiating a deep orange light. The sky surrounding the sun was a tapestry of oranges and yellows and the few clouds in the sky appeared to be set ablaze by the light. The deep crimson hue of the far horizon added to the sheer beauty of the rising dawn. Celestia admired her handiwork then looked down on her city, she saw something. "What in the-" She sad quietly to herself.

     Seventeen soldiers, were all that was left. All of them suffering major injuries. Their steel armor were now black, bloodstained, charred husks. Burns covered their bodies, mostly their legs. They smelled of the stench of death. The staggered down the streets of Canterlot, their battle damaged armor clanking and their hooves wearily scraping the ground. They were exhausted, fatigued beyond their limits. They have just climbed out of the mouth of Hell, they marched all the way to Canterlot non-stop. A march which should have taken two days, in one night. Their eyes were bloodshot and their mouths were dry, their breaths were heavy and raspy. Their gait was sluggish and unorganized but still attempting a military air. The residents of Canterlot watched in shock as the soldiers passed, not one of them offering so much as a drink of water.

     They finally made it to the palace gates, the guards were more confused than anything else. The gate guard whispered to himself, "What in the name of..." Then Princess Celestia plummeted from the sky and landed on the ground in a very loud pound, her magnificent wings widespread, head bowed and knees bent from the force of the landing. She raised her head to make eye contact with the startled soldiers, her face filled with held back rage.

     Her voice was trembling with fury, "What happened?"

     Rainbow Dash talked with the recruiter, answered all of his questions and was filling out some paperwork. She finished and brought the papers to the recruiter.

     "Now you're absolutely sure about joining the Air Force?" The pegasus recruiter asked. "This is a pretty big decision."

     Rainbow Dash replied with a nod, "Most definitely, sir."

     "Alright then, come back in three days and you'll be given the ASVAB." The recruiter said, accepting the papers.

     "The what?" Rainbow Dash asked puzzled.

     "The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery," The recruiter replied, "It'll test your mental abilities to see what job your best qualified for. After that you'll be given the PFT it'll test your physical abilities."

     "Oh, okay, got it." Rainbow Dash said with a smile,then turned towards the door. As she was walking out she saw somepony she recognized, Fluttershy. "Oh no!" Rainbow dash thought as she quickly ducked back in the recruiter's office.

     "Something wrong?" The recruiter asked, a little confused.

     "Uuh no! nothing's wrong. It's just...nothing." Rainbow Dash shook her head at the last line, the recruiter shrugged it off. She watched intently out the window for Fluttershy to be out of sight. She looked like she was looking for something or somepony. After about a minute, she left and Rainbow Dash sped out towards Ponyville.

     Applejack pulled a cart full of apples into the streets of Ponyville. She looked up to see more clouds roll in, "Where is that Rainbow Dash?" she thought. She saw all of the destroyed buildings, some were burnt, black skeletons of wood and others were nothing but a pile of rubble. She saw all the destitute ponies, their homes and possessions destroyed. She was taking the apples to donate to the Disaster Recovery Center that was being set up in town. It was the least she could do, considering her home wasn't touched. "Why did this happen?" Applejack thought. "Why would they overreact like this?"

     Rarity was donating textiles and fabric to be made into coats and blankets for those who lost their homes. Her boutique was barely missed by the fire that destroyed over half the town. She was taking the fabric to the center when she saw Applejack towing her apple cart. Rarity decided to go and walk with her to the Center, it would be nice to have somepony to talk to, besides a terrified Sweetie Bell. "Oh, Applejack!" Rarity called out, as she made her way towards her.

     "Oh, hey there, Rarity." Applejack answered, cracking a smile. "You headin' towards the Center?"

     "Indeed I am, I have some fabric to give. Mind if I walk with you?" Rarity asked.

     "Sure, it would be nice to have some company." Applejack replied as they walked together down the street, she looked around, scanning the destruction. Then said, "I'm looking at it with my own eyes and I still don't believe it."

     "I know, it's simply awful. Innocent ponies dying!" Rarity answered, a gloomy expression on her face. "It's just so hard to accept, I've never seen such destruction."

     "I know what you mean, It's just too hard to accept. What would drive ponies to do things like this? This is just madness!"

     Rarity just nodded in agreement and continued their walk. She later told Applejack that she was working in her boutique during the whole thing. She noticed the fire and the soldiers and hid with Sweetie Bell until it was all over.

     Applejack told Rarity that she headed back home when she saw the soldiers marching. Her family could see the fire all the way from Sweet Apple Acres. They didn't say much else on their walk towards the Center.

     Twilight Sparkle sat in her, now new, home. It was a penthouse in the palace. She was royalty and she was treated as such. She had been given a personal guard, a staff, everything she would need. But Twilight already missed her Library home in Ponyville in which she lived for the past few years. Those were the best years of her life and now they're gone; burned away into ashes, just like her home. She was in a depressed state, as one would expect when you have had your home destroyed. She thought about what happened. She couldn't get it out of her mind, Rainbow Dash's bruised, bloody body. She thought about the ponies that attacked her, how can they become so violent so quickly? "Spike?" Twilight called, wanting somepony to talk to.

     "Yeah?" Spike walked in. Twilight motioned him to sit next her.

     "I keep thinking about it." Twilight said coldly, "All those innocent ponies dying. And the weird thing is, what did they die for?"

     Spike didn't know what to saw, so he kept listening.

     "I mean, they were protesting against Princess Celestia's new laws but, did they need to resort to bloodshed over it? And why did the soldiers resort to such violence?" Twilight rambled, eager to get this off her chest. Spike just sat there and listened. "I have never seen that much devastation before...or so much blood." She paused and a single tear came down her face. She whimpered trying to hold back more tears.

     "It's okay, Twilight." Spike reassured, attempting to comfort his friend.

     "I don't know if I'm ready for this, Spike. Why would it stop with Ponyville? What if it happens in other cities? Equestria hasn't seen such violence since the Griffon War." She recalled the militaristic pegasi and the griffons in an ancient war, two millenia ago, long before the reign of Celestia and Luna. She continued, "That's how long ago the last violent event took place. Can you imagine what kind of psychological impact this will have on the Equestrian ponies?" Twilight stated further. "I pray that other cities don't suffer the same fate Ponyville suffered." Twilight looked down, tears forced their way from her eyes.

     Spike didn't know what to say so he just gave Twilight a comforting hug. She accepted it, still trying to hold back tears. She sniffled and turned her eyes toward the window and gazed at the rising sun. What will become of Equestria?

     A few hours later. Celestia was finding it harder and harder to hold back her rage, first Luna tells her of the atrocity in Ponyville, now she finds out that almost an entire company was ambushed and killed in the most gruesome way possible. The soldiers had already been admitted in a hospital. Celestia was now in her Council room and she was giving orders to her military commander, he was a unicorn clad in the ceremonial bronze armor, with a great, red crest on his helmet.

     "I want all the towns in a fifty mile radius locked down. These terrorists must be found. Use all the ponies you need." Celestia ordered.

     "Yes, your majesty." He replied.

     Celestia turned towards the others that were in the room. Besides herself, Luna and Twilight, there were six others. "What is the status of the unrest in the other cities?" She asked.

     A council member answered, "Manehatten is growing more and more restless, if something isn't done about it soon it might suffer the same fate as Ponyville."

     "That will not happen." Celestia responded, "Twilight?"

     "Yes princess?" Twilight asked eagerly.

     "I want you to take a royal envoy to Manehatten and settle the disturbances." Celestia deadpanned, "I'm trusting you to handle this."

     "I won't let you down. Your majesty." Twilight nodded.

     "See that you don't." Celestia said coldly. Something was odd about her. "Luna. I want you to oversee the investigation and clean-up of the ambush sight. See if you can find anything that can lead us to these murderers."

     Luna just nodded. The meeting was adjourned and everypony left. Luna was the last to leave right behind Celestia. "Sister?" Luna called.

     "What is it Luna?" Celestia turned around to face her younger sister.

     "Are you sure these new laws were the wisest course of action?" Luna asked.

     "Yes, yes they were. Order and harmony has to be maintained." Celestia replied.

     "That doesn't seem to be happening, look at what happened in Ponyville." Luna pointed out, "Ponies died, Celestia. Maybe the new laws were a mistake."

     Celestia sighed, "It may not look like it now, but you will soon see that what I did was the right thing. I need you to trust me Luna, can you trust me?" Celestia looked Luna in the eyes.

     After a long pause Luna nodded her head in affirmation.

     Fluttershy returned to her home in Ponyville after a fruitless search for Rainbow Dash. It was the end of the day and she was exhausted from all of the traveling. "Where is she?" Fluttershy thought. She couldn't find Rainbow Dash at her house or in Cloudsdale, it's like she just disappeared. "What am I supposed to tell Applejack?" She thought again, sorry that she will have to disappoint her friend. Fluttershy fed all her animals then went to bed for the night.

     News of the now called "Ponyville Massacre" spread throughout Equestria like a plague. And the news infected every city and town the story was told in. The ponies looked for somepony to blame and all hooves pointed at Celestia. Ponyville was just the beginning.

Chapter 7

        Rainbow Dash did her best to hide from her friends over the course of the next three days. She just couldn't face them after what she did. She was joining the military to escape Ponyville and, by proxy, her guilt. She hid out in the Cloudsdale library most of the time, that's the only place nopony would look. She decided to read up on the history of her people while she was there. What else was there to do? She did all the research she could on Pegasi history. She already knew the Pegasi was a proud militaristic race long ago, but she didn't know how deep those warrior roots went. Every history book was another war the Pegasi fought. Page after page was battle after battle. Rainbow Dash was surprised by what she found, she learned of the Dragonic Uprising: a Pegasi rebellion against the powerful and now gone Dragon Empire, it also marked the Pegasi as a force to be reckoned with. There were also countless civil wars. The Earth Pony Conquest: a short series of campaigns to conquer the "Flightless vermin".The campaign failed miserably. The Pegasi were defeated when they Earth Ponies allied with the Unicorns. The Griffon War: A dispute over territory led to an all out war between Griffons and Pegasi, the longest war in their history and the last. The Pegasi history is marred with battle and soaked in blood.

     Rainbow Dash was amazed at her people's history. They didn't teach this in school. At least not to her. It's probably because the Pegasi were ashamed of their past. They were no longer the ruthless conquerors they used to be. Rainbow Dash also learned that when the Pegasi allied with the Earth Ponies and Unicorns to form Equestria their warrior way declined and faded, and was practically gone when Celestia and Luna came to power. Rainbow Dash also learned of the last Pegasi leader to see battle: Commander Hurricane. She lead the final battles in the Griffon War.

     Rainbow Dash was amazed by all this history and she planned on living up to her ancestors' standards in the military. She kept thinking about it more and more. The more she thought, the more she knew that there was no way out of it.

     Applejack and Rarity were helping with some volunteer work at the recovery center, Applejack was making food, and Rarity was making clothing; all for ponies who were destitute. The center needed all the help they could. There were many volunteers from the unscorched part of town, even Zecora came and offered to make healing potions for the injured.

     Everypony was engrossed in their work when they heard panicked noises from outside. Applejack and Rarity went outside to see what everything was about. They saw half a dozen pegasi fly overhead at an incredibly high speed, as if they were trying to escape something. They kept yelling, "They're coming back! They're coming back!"

     "What in tarnation?" Applejack questioned. Then she saw what the pegasi were flying from. About twenty armored pegasi in four V formations, were chasing them. They were closing in fast. Then she heard the pounding of hooves in the distance. "No...No!" She choked out, preparing to run. She turned and saw soldiers marching down a road; their weapons, were down. Everypony began to panic. They survived one hell, they didn't want to go through another one. Everypony galloped for their lives. But the soldiers were corralling them to the center of town. They were marching down every road to make sure nopony escaped. Ponyville was in the fifty mile radius from the ambush and it must be locked down. Those terrorists must be found.

     Soon, all of the citzens were packed into the town square. Some could barely move it was so tight. "Halt!" was heard.

     All of the soldiers stomped their hooves and unison and bellowed a loud "Aye!" before stopping cold. Nopony moved.

     A pegasus flew into view, he had a crest as well as a blade on his helmet, signaling high rank. He undid the strap on his helmet and removed it, holding it in his hooves. He flew to where everypony can see him, he addressed the Ponyville citizens with a menacining glare. "My name is Captain Ironsword!" he shouted to the frightened ponies, "You will all be held here and questioned as to the whereabouts of four fugitives. After you have been questioned and have been cleared, you will be allowed to return to your homes. But, if anypony is caught attempting to leave Ponyville you WILL be arrested and detained indefinitely. Understand!"

     A few nervous nods replied his rant. The captain slammed his helmet back on and raised a hoof. All of the soldiers backed up a little bit to give everypony room.

     Many other towns were locked down by royal troops, much to the dismay of the citizens. Nopony was used to this. Everything was going so well in Equestria, it was almost a utopia. Nothing significantly dangerous happened, except for a few dragon sightings. There hasn't been a war in millenia. Now it seems that everything is changing.

     Along with the lockdowns there was to be a garrison installed in every city, and construction was already underway. Many more protests took place and a few riots, but nopony wanted another "Ponyville Massacre" so everypony disbursed at the first appearance of troops. Thousands of troops were being spread across the country to keep it's people in check. Even talks of a draft were being discussed in Celestia's council chamber.

     The pony hunt for these terrorists turned up fruitless, further angering Celestia.

     Three days soon passed and Rainbow Dash found herself taking the ASVAB. She answered all the questions as best she could. It wasn't like any test she had taken in school, it was... different. A few weeks passed and she found herself standing in line getting screamed at by a drill instructor. The military was much different and much worse than the academy.

     During those weeks, things took a turn for the worse in Equestria, Nopony liked the garrisons and courage was soon returning to the populace. The pony hunt for these terrorists turned up fruitless, further angering Celestia.

     Fluttershy headed for sugercube corner to meet up with Applejack and Rarity. She was so worried of the current events. Things were changing and she feared it was for the worst. Ever since the garrison installation, curfews were enabled and surprise cart checks were enacted, and a mandatory cart check if it was a certain size. All this invasion of privacy greatly worried Fluttershy, as well as the rest of Ponyville and other locked down cities. She neared her destination and saw two guards patrol right past her. One guard eyeballed her before returning his eyes to the road. Fluttershy was relieved that the guards who patroled the streets and guarded certain buildings, no longer wore the combat armor but instead the ceremonial brazen armor. It was more comfortable and easier to maintain for the troops and it scared the populace a little less. But, the combat armor was kept in the garrisons for appropriate use.

     She arrived at her destination to be greeted by applejack and Rarity. Sugercube corner has become a regular meet-up place for the three. Applejack greeted fluttershy with a smile and Rarity motioned her towards a table they were sitting at.

     "Hi, girls." Fluttershy greeted, "I'm so sorry I'm late." She looked at the ground apologetically.

     "Aw it's alright, sugercube." Applejack said reassuringly, "Just sit yourself down and have an apple fritter."

     Fluttershy joined the group and began chatting.

     Applejack started the conversation, "I'm getting more and more worried about this new garrison, they just finished building it just outside of town."

     Rarity chimed in, "I know, I saw it yesterday. It's just a giant wooden square with a door and four turrets at the corners, no flair at all. They should put more style in their construction." She sipped her tea after finishing her statement. Applejack gave her a questionable look. "What? I'm trying to make the best of a situation." She sipped her levitating tea again.

     Applejack continued, "Anyway, there is at least seventy-five soldiers stationed at that garrison; and every day they go through my apple carts as I bring them into town. You don't even want to know how long it took for me to get them to let me go home, me living out o'town and all."

     Rarity and Fluttershy knew that their friend was angry. Applejack was never one to complain, but some ponies have their breaking point.

     Applejack said, "I don't like all this invasion o'privacy." Fluttershy and Rarity nodded in agreement.

     "But, what can we do?" Rarity asked. "Maybe we should just learn to get used to it. I'm sure it wil all end once they find the ponies they're looking for."

     "But what if they never do find 'em?" Applejack argued, "What if they tighten the rules, and make it so we can't even leave our own homes or even speak to one another!" She realized she was ranting and stopped to take a deep breath. "Sorry, I've been keeping this in for a while."

     "Oh, it's quite alright." Rarity said with a smile, "I understand that a pony needs to blow off steam every once in a while." She turned to Fluttershy, who hadn't said a word this whole time and asked, "What do you think about all this?"

     Fluttershy's ears perked up at the question, "Umm, I'm not sure. I guess I would have to agree with Applejack, all these soldiers make me nervous."

     The two other ponies nodded and contemplated for a few moments before Appleck piped up. "Hey, have any o'yall heard from Rainbow Dash or Pinkie Pie yet?" The other two shook their heads, "It seems like they just disappeared. We know Rainbow Dash is somewhere out there, but Pinkie Pie... . She didn't finish the thought, her mind went back to that terrible incident as did Rarity's and Fluttershy's. "Let's talk about somethin else." Applejack stated.

A few minutes earlier...

    The Ponyville Garrison just received a shipment of two pieces of artillery along with one hundred shells and five barrels of black powder. The artillery was loaded and placed along the east side of the wall next to the armory, the ammuntion and powder was placed in the armory. The guard who loaded the last barrel was about to lock the door to the armory when he looked up and saw...balloons. Dozens upon dozens of balloons all floating skywards seemed to come from all around the fort. "What the..." The guard said in wonder gazing up at the balloons, leaving the armory door slightly ajar. All of the soldiers gazed up at the spectacle in confusion and what astounded them more was as the balloons floated away fireworks were going off, loud and colorful fireworks.

     After about twenty seconds it all stopped and the balloons flew away. And the captain yelled "What was that about?!" The guard went back to lock the armory door when the door flung open and smashed his face clanging against his helmet. He quickly regained his composure and saw a black cloaked, pink furred mare sprinting away towards the west wall. "Hey! Hold it!" he barked, catching the attention of all the other soldiers who also noticed the galloping mare who was already at the wall.

     Then "BOOM!" The armory was completely incinerated along with the guard at the door. The other soldiers nearest to it fell down from the shockwave along with one soldier who screamed before going silent from having his organs rupture from the concussion. Another soldier was impaled by a six foot long piece of wooden shrapnel. The pink coated mare had braced for the explosion and began clawing at the wall with climbing hooks on her hooves. The cannons flew from there placements and one of them hit the ground and went off firing a projectile across the ground, tearing a soldier in half and nailing a post of one of the corner turrets. It toppled over parrallel to the wall along with the guard at the top who was screaming on his way down when he was finally impaled by the pointed top of the wooden wall. The garrison was in complete chaos, the barracks was on fire along with the west wall and was spreading fast. The pink mare was almost over the top of the wall before a unicorn soldier fired a magic blast, but all it did was fry off the end of her tail.

     She made it over the wall, save half of her tail, and sprinted away towards Sweet Apple Acres.

     ..."Let's talk about somethin else." Applejack stated.  Then the three ponies heard a distant explosion. They all got up and went outside to investigate. They saw smoke rising in the horizon then a smaller explosion went off. "The garrison is in that direction." Applejack said, her voice quivering in fear.

     "Do, do you mean?" Fluttershy shuddered.

     "We need to get outta here!" Applejack began running. quickly followed by Fluttershy and Rarity.

     "Can we go with you?!" Rarity asked her friend whilst galloping.

     "Please do. Y'all will be safer at the farm." Applejack replyed.

     Rarity immediately stopped herself by digging her hooves in the ground, "Sweetie Belle!" She gasped. She turned around and yelled, "I have to get Sweetie Belle! I'll catch up!"

     "Well we're comin with ya! We have to stick together, we can't lose any more of us than we already have." Applejack answered back and soon Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy all galloped to Rarity's boutique.

     They finally made it there and they found Sweetie Belle painting on a canvas seeing if she can get her cutie mark as an artist. They didn't want to frighten Rarity's little sister so Applejack went up and said nervously, "Uuh, hey Sweetie Belle! You wanna have a sleepover with Apple Bloom?"

     Sweetie Belle was surprised and immidiatly stopped what she was doing and said "Uuh, Sure!"

     Rarity jumped in "Fabulous! Let's go!" and immediatly levitated her on her back.

     "Wait!" Sweetie Belle interrupted, "Can I get my stuff?"

     Applejack looked at Rarity with a somber look and said, "You better get everythin you need."

     Rarity put her sister down and said with a nervous smile, "Ok Sweetie Belle, go get your things."

     Sweetie Belle ran off to her room. And Rarity went to get a saddlebag, she filled it with her most valuable gems, all of her money and other various things. She wanted her valuables in case the worst happened to her boutique. She knew that if that was the garrison that blew up then a hammer of fire was swinging right at Ponyville, and she wanted her and her sister to be no where near the hammer when it strikes. She just prayed that Applejack's farm would be far enough away to be safe.

     As Rarity gathered her things, Applejack turned to Fluttershy "Is there anything we need to get at your place?"

     Fluttershy shook her head, "I just gave my animals their weekly supply of food, and I don't have anything to valuable there. I just want to make sure we're all safe." Fluttershy quivered with the last statement.

     Rarity packed her last thing: her lucky scissors. She tightened the straps of the saddlebag and said, "Ok, I'm ready." She cocked her head towards the stairs, "Sweetie Belle! Are you ready!"

     Sweetie Belle came running down the stairs with her own saddle bag. Rarity then levitated her on her back and all four ran outside. "Is Scootaloo coming?" Sweetie Belle asked, excited.

     "Umm, sure, whatever!" Applejack snapped, eager to get back to the farm.

     They all ran down the street, and they almost made it to the outskirts when they saw a bunch of enraged soldiers rounding up civilians. When one stallion objected he was immedietly jumped by two soldiers and was beat to death with bronze horse shoes. They looked around and saw a mare being pinned to the wall of her home by soldier who was yelling, "Are you harboring them!" and she was franticly shaking her head no with tears in here eyes. The soldier turned to his comrades, "Torch it anyway, just to be safe." And they threw a torch through the window setting fire to the mare's home.

     "This way!" Applejack cried, and all four ducked into an alley.

     Half way down they heard, "Hold it right there!" All of their hearts stopped and they turned around two see two soldiers charging towards them. They wanted to run but they were too scared to. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

     Applejack finally said, "We're going home. We've done nothin wrong."

     "Right." The soldier said sarcastically, "Maybe the foal knows what you're up to." And he moved towards her.

     "You're not touching Sweetie Belle!" Rarity shouted, backing up.

     "Hand her over!" the soldier ordered.

     "No!" she screamed.

     He then brought his hoof up and brought it across Rarity's face, knocking her to the ground along with her sister. Applejack tried to intervene but was met with a headbutt from the other soldier, making her nose bleed. Fluttershy was too scared to do anything.

     The soldier grabbed Sweetie Belle and she began crying for Rarity who just recovered from the blow and she panicked and pulled out her scissors from her bag with her magic and sent it straight at the soldier stabbing him in the eye.

     A bloodcurdling scream escaped his lips as blood spurted from his eye socket. The other soldier was completely surprised and he reeled back.

     "Run!" Applejack cried.

     Rarity who was shocked at what she had done, grabbed Sweetie Belle with her magic and took off with Applejack. Fluttershy finally snapped out of her frightened stupor and tailed behind the three, until she was tackled by the second soldier. She was about to scream but he put a hoof over her mouth. Applejack and the Sweetie Belle carrying Rarity rounded the alley corner and the soldier saw that and smiled. Fluttershy was struggling and they ended up rolling over until they hit the wall. The soldier was on top of her and he held her down with his weight and bent his head to her ear and said softly, "Yeah, fight. It's better that way." He kissed her ear after saying that.

     Fluttershy was panicking and her eyes widened when she felt something in between her back legs, she kept trying to scream but the soldiers hoof gagged her mouth. She started to cry hysterically when she realized what he was doing.

     The soldier continued what he was doing when he heard a loud snarl, and he looked up and saw the underside of a hoof. That was the last thing he ever saw.

     Applejack realized Fluttershy was missing and sprinted back to see the soldeir attempting to rape her. She then ran up and gave the best applebucking kick she ever gave and crushed the soldiers skull against the wall. "Fluttershy run!" she yelled, panicking. Fluttershy wasted no time in getting up and sprinting towards Rarity still crying her eyes out.

     Applejack tried and tried to pull her hoof out of the soldiers head, her back leg covered in his blood. She pulled it out and they all sprinted away and managed to escape Ponyville and towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Chapter 8

     Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rarity galloped through the sunset back to Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy was still crying as they ran. They made it to the door of Applejack's house and she swung it open and motioned the other two in. They slammed the door after everypony barreled in. Sweetie Belle was crying and asking, "What's going on?! What happened?!" She kept crying and repeating the questions over and over. Rarity sat her down while trying to hold back her own tears, she was still dealing with stabbing a soldier in the eye with her own scissors and seeing Applejack crush a soldier's skull against a wall.

     Rarity tried to calm her sister down, "I'm so sorry you had to see that." Her voice was quivering and she was speaking quickly, "We did what we had to do, Sweetie Belle." She began tearing up, "I'm so, so sorry."

     Applejack called for the rest of her family. As she waited she looked down at her hind legs, they were soaked with blood. Then the reality hit her, she killed another pony. Yes, it was in defending her friend but she still took another pony's life in a very brutal way. Her mental strength was already stretched to it's limits, but she promised herself that she wouldn't break down. She told herself to stay strong to lead her friends and her family.

     "What's goin on here!" Granny Smith came hobbling in to the living room from the kitchen just as Big Mac came inside from working out in the orchard. He noticed his sister's red painted hind legs and a hysterical Rarity and Sweetie Belle, and a sobbing Fluttershy. His face perked up in curiosity.

     Applejack looked and noticed Applebloom was missing. "Where's Applebloom?" Applejack nervously asked.

     "She's uh out playin with that Scootafriend of hers." Granny Smith said, "What happened to y'all?"

     "We encountered a ... problem." Applejack attempted to explain, looking down at the floor. "I just need the entire family to be here, in the house. Big Mac, get Applebloom. Are she and Scootaloo at the clubhouse?"

     "Eeyup." Was all he replyed.

     "Get them both then." Applejack continued. Big Mac went out the door to fulfill his request, knowing that applejack would explain everything when she got back.

     Rarity was still trying to get Sweetie Belle to stop crying, and Fluttershy was curled up in a ball in the corner, quietly sobbing.  Applejack looked very uncomfortable with the blood on her legs and all that made Granny Smith very confused.

     "What in tarnation happened to y'all? Y'all look like you've been through a war!" Granny Smith asked, confused.

     "I'll explain everythin when Big Mac gets back." Applejack said, "Just get me a towel to wash this off."

     "Is that there blood?" Granny Smith asked.

     "Just get me a towel!" Applejack snapped, tears welling up in her eyes.

     Granny Smith immediatly went to get what her grandaughter asked for. Which left Applejack alone with Rarity, Sweetie Belle and Fluttershy. Rarity finally got her sister to stop crying and they held each other, still with tears in their eyes. Fluttershy was still weeping in the corner.

     "Here ya are." Granny Smith tossed a towel Applejack's way.

     She caught it and immediatly started scrubbing her hind legs. It wasn't coming off as easily as she wanted it to. Soon the towel was stained just as red as her fur was and all the blood still wasn't off. The sight of the blood made Applejack want to cry, it made her want to just give in to the mental pressures. She dropped the blood soaked towel and stared at the floor, she gritted her teeth and held back tears.

     Big Mac came in, quickly followed by Applebloom and Scootaloo.

     "What's goin on?" Applebloom asked, "Big Mac said it was an emergency!"

     "Oh, Applebloom." Applejack was about break down, she scanned the rest of her family. She took a few inconsistent breaths and said, "It's happening again!" Everypony knew what she was talking about, and their faces went from concerned to panic. She began crying and talking at the same time, "The soldiers!...we tried to run!..." She took a troubled breath and paused. She stared at her family before finally breaking down, "I killed him!" Applejack began crying hysterically while repeating "I killed him." over and over again.

     Big Mac stepped forward and Applejack quickly wrapped her forehooves around him and buried her face in his shoulder, still repeating herself. He didn't say anything, he just comforted his sister.

     Twilight Sparkle was taking a walk in the palace garden. The scent of perreniel flowers relaxed her as she strolled. Her responsibilities have given her a very large load of stress and walking through the garden relieved some of it, that and reading in the Canterlot library. Twilight thought about her previous envoys to settle revolts. She thought of them more as convoys because over two hundred soldiers escorted her to the cities. Then they would all point their spears out at the public in a very threatening way; so no matter what Twilight would say, the public would agree.

     Twilight didn't like that way of calming the populace, but what could she do? Whatever Celestia says goes.

     Twilight finished her walk and went back to her room. She had a balcony in her penthouse and she gazed out at the sunset and watched Princess Celestia do her handiwork. The colors of the setting sun put a relaxing and mellowing spirit into the air and Twilight soaked in every moment of it. But, even amidst this atmosphere, something bugged Twilight and her gut told her that something was wrong.

     Rainbow Dash sat in a classroom with twenty-five other recruits. The instructor was teaching them about combat tactics in the air. He then called attention to an object on a table in the front of the class: a helmet. The same helmets that the soldiers wore with their battle armor, only it was sleeker and had shorter blades.

     The instructor then motioned towards the helmet, " This is a Royal Warhelm. It is your defense and your weapon. You will all learn how to fight with one properly, so that if you may go into combat you will emerge victorious from any encounter. You will all be issued your armor and be given practice helmets.

     Later, dash was fitted for her armor and given a helmet. It had wooden, unsharpened blades instead of the actual blades. She would be given an actual warhelm later. She and her company were taken to the practice grounds. The were to first practice fighting on the ground before taking it to the air.

     They were all told to line up until their name was called. The drill instructor called out two names and told them to stand about ten feet apart, facing each other.

     He then instructed the two recruits on what to do, "Your main objective is to use the blades to hit the neck, a killshot. You will fight at the sound of the whistle and will stop when a proper killshot has been made."

     The two recruits belted, "Sir, yes sir!" and braced for a charge, their armor clanking as they took their stances. The drill instructor blew his whistle and the two recruits charged at each other like bulls to a red cape. They wanted to aim for each others necks but they were to scared to fully commit so thier heads clanged together and their blades locked like two bucks fighting over a doe. They both grunted as their heads collided, there was sufficient padding in the helmets to prevent any lasting trauma. The two recruits pushed at each other, their wooden blades rubbing and prying against each others helmets. One finally succumbed to weakness and was knocked over. The victor then brought the "killing" blow and won the match.

     As they were fighting, Rainbow Dash's mind went to the incident with the stallion and how she beat him senseless and left him to die in a burning library. She shook it out of her head, that's a moment of her life that she never wants to revisit again.

     Two more names were called, Rainbow Dash was one of them. She stood poised and ready for the drill. She sized her opponent up: a young, bright orange coated stallion who was slightly bigger than she was. As she was sizing him up, her mind went back to the burning library. Rainbow Dash shut her eys tight and slightly jostled her head.

     'Stop' Dash thought, she took a deep breath. Then the whistle was blown, instinct took over and Dash charged at the stallion. Their helmets smashed against each other. She looked him dead in the eys and saw the accusing eyes of the burning stallion in the library. The wooden blades were locked together. Dash's breath was getting heavier and heavier in the struggle for dominance. The stallion had thought this was going to be an easy victory considering he was facing off against a mare. And he was growing a little nervous.

     Dash's mind raced and she could see the fire surrounding her, the rage in the stallion's eyes and the fear in her own heart. Dash's mind snapped and she bellowed out a bloodcurdling warcry. The stallion's eyes widened in shock. Adrenaline filled her veins giving her superior strength and she twisted her head as hard as she could. The wooden blade on the stallion's helmet snapped off and Dash brought her head back around. Using the top of her head as a hammer, she smashed the stallion across the face crushing the faceplate against his snout.

     He cryed out in pain and fell to the ground. Dash reared back and brought her blade down on the stallion's neck as hard as her neck muscles would allow. He screamed out as Dash repeatedly beat him with her practie helmet and then bringing her armored hooves in to beat him further.

     "That's enough! That's enough!" the drill instructor rammed Dash off of the beaten and bruised recruit, he then yelled "Back of the line!"

     Dash snapped back to reality and saw what she had done. She was shivering from the experience and her breathing was hectic. She looked at the broken stallion and back at the recruits. She couldn't see their facial expressions through the helmets but she could definitely see the shocked and surprised eyes of all of them.

     The instructor scremed out a last, "NOW!" before Dash hurried back to her place.

     As Rainbow Dash stood in line she thought about what happened, she wanted to tell the recruit how sorry she was. But more than that... she wanted to tell the stallion back at the library how sorry she was.

     Applejack sat in her bathtub, scrubbing at her bloodsoaked legs with a soapy wash rag. 'Today was a nightmare' Applejack thought to herself. She remembered hearing the soldiers skull crush and the brain squish. She shuddered, she remembered the warm sensation of the blood splashing her legs. More tears came up and she quietly sobbed in her state of guilt. The blood was washing off alot easier than her previous attempt, but it also tinted the water she was in and she had to continualy drain the tub to avoid bathing in blood.

     Explaining the situation to her family didn't go as well as she hoped. After she stopped crying she was able to briefly account the events that lead them to here. Needless to say, the Apple family was shocked. They still supported Applejack and told her that she made the right decision, even if she did take another life. That put her mind at ease a little more. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle were taken to a guest room in the house. There was no way the Apple family was going to let Scootaloo go back home in Ponyville, she stayed in Applebloom's room. Big Macintosh volunteered to keep watch during the night in case any soldiers decided to march their way to the farm and if that did happen...Applejack didn't want to think about that.

     Applejack finally scruubed her coat clean, although there was just the slightest hint of pink in her fur. She dried off and went to see how Fluttershy and Rarity were doing.

     She gently knocked on their door. "Yes?" Rarity's voice was heard from the other side. Applejack walked in to find Rarity and Fluttershy sitting across from each other on the floor. It appeared that they were having a conversation before Applejack knocked.

     "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt." Applejack sheepishly said while slowly backing up.

     "Oh, you didn't interrupt us at all." Rarity chimed, motioning her friend in, "How are you doing?"

     Applejack walked up and plopped herself down next to Rarity and Fluttershy, "I'm doin a little better. Where's Sweetie Belle?"

     "Oh she's with her friends, I figured it was best to keep them together to get their spirits up." Rarity replied, "Do you want to talk about anything?"

     Applejack looked at the floor in contemplation. She finally said, "Everythin was goin so well."

     "What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked, eyes still red from sobbing.

     "Us. Everypony. Equestria! It was all goin so well, but it all changed." Applejack then turned to her friends, with a face of steel she said, "When Celestia gets wind of this, an army a thousand strong will fall upon Ponyville and tear it apart, brick by brick." Rarity and Fluttershy glanced at each other worriedly. Applejack continued, "My farm..." She paused, "They're gonna destroy my farm."

     Rarity interjected, "They will do no such thing."

     "You saw what they did! Twice!" Applejack shot, "They will burn everythin until Celestia is appeased. And Princess Luna won't be here to stop 'em either."

     "Well, what can we do?" Rarity asked, concerned.

     Applejack looked at the floor again, "I don't know."

Chapter 9

     Twilight Sparkle had trouble sleeping through that night.

     Twilight found herself walking on a stone road. She looked around and studied her surroundings. It was day and the sky was complete overcast. The road was going through the Equestrian grasslands; but instead of the grass being the vibrant, vivid green, it was a bleak, dull grey. The few trees were leafless and their limbs were twisted. As she walked she took a deep breath, the air was cold and bitter but not overbearingly so. She continued to walk down the road, her hooves making very muted clops on the stone. Twilight didn't know why she was walking, she just did. Her walking finally brought her to a fork in the road: one path going right and the other left. There were no signs pointing the correct direction.

      Twilight couldn't choose which way, then something unexpected happened. She heard footsteps coming from behind, loud and deep footsteps. She spun around and saw another pony behind her, a stallion. Only this pony was nothing she had ever seen before, he was huge, larger than Celestia. He was too far away for Twilight to see his features but what she did see was that this stallion was covered in black and rusted combat armor. His helmet blade was extremely exaggerated, it was monstrously large and was dripping something. His horn was bleach white and his eyes were glowing red. He reared back and bellowed a hollow and raspy roar and he charged towards Twilight at a frightening speed.

      Twilight gasped and ran down the path towards her right, she no longer cared about the choice of direction she should go. She just wanted to get away from that thing. She tried to fly but her wings were stuck to her sides, she couldn't move them. She ran as fast as she could. She could feel the massive pony gaining on her. Her surroundings were getting progressively darker and darker. She could feel the pounding of hooves behind her. Then the road stopped and went out into a black void. Twilight didn't notice this and she ran headlong into the maw of darkness.

      She plummeted downwards, her wings still weren't flapping no matter how hard she tried. She tried to scream but her voice was gone, nothing came out of her open mouth. She fell until she hit a river, she sunk into the viscous liquid and she resurfaced to take a breath. She realized the river she was being swept in was a dark red. She tasted the liquid that forced its way into her mouth and the strong taste of metal overtook her. She was swimming in blood. Twilight panicked at the revelation and she tried again and again to fly but to no avail. The river of blood ended and it spewed her out over a waterfall and she fell again. She hit the ground but felt no pain from  the impact.

      Twilight was appalled by her drenched fur. Her once purple coat was now a blackish red, she was dripping blood. One drop of blood dripped from her horn onto her bottom lip causing her to spit furiously. She tried to use her magic to wash off the disgusting liquid but her magic didn't work either. She shook herself like a dog, droplets flew into all directions. She sat down in a miserable state. "At least that thing is gone." Twilight thought. She was sitting in a black void, she couldn't see anything. Then the unthinkable happened.

      She heard a scraping noise and she shot her head in the direction of the sound. She saw the glowing red eyes of the black armored pony. Fear took Twilight's soul as she tried to run again; but her legs were stuck, they wouldn't move. All she could do was watch the armored behemoth approach her. The stallion moved close to Twilight and she could see his features underneath his helmet, all she saw underneath was a white, scarred skull. The stallion then spread it's wings which were nothing but a skeleton of what they should be. He had no coat of fur, just bones underneath his armor. His eyes were just bright red pupils in empty sockets. His horn was radiating a black magic. His armor was incredibly damaged and rusted. Twilight had never been this scared in her life. She was frozen in fear she wanted to look away, to run as far away as she could. But she couldn't look away from it. Twilight knew she was staring directly into the face of Death himself.

      The beast leaned in, his massive helmet blade dripped even more blood on her already soaked body. He moved his head so close to hers they were almost touching. Twilight could smell the rust and the beast's decaying teeth.

      The alicorn of death then spoke very slowly in a hollow and menacing voice, "You have chosen...poorly."

      Twilight, went from fear and terror to outright panic. She attempted to scream and yell "No!" and "Help me!" but her voice was gone, as if it was stolen from her. But her tears did work and they flowed. The death pony reared back and brandished his blade, ready to bring it down upon Twilight.

      A bright, white light appeared in Death's chest and grew in intensity. He finally vaporized from the light and bits of bone and metal flew into all directions. Twilight opened her eyes and saw Princess Luna appear in a swirl of dark blue magic.

      Twilight gasped in joy and found out that she can move once more. "Princess Luna!" she shouted, "Oh, thank you, thank you." She wrapped up Luna in an embrace.

      Luna accepted the hug then said, "Your gratitude was appreciated, but not necessary." she then motioned her hoof towards the black void surrounding them, "This is a dream."

      Twilight was a little stunned, but not surprised, 'Of course!' she thought. She then spoke, "If this is a dream does that mean you're...?"

      "I am as real as you are." Luna, interjected. "It is my duty."

       Twilight remembered Luna's ability to go into ponies' dreams. "This nightmare was the worst I've ever had." she said looking down in reflection.

       "So I've observed. But if you have a dream of this intensity then it must mean something." Luna explained, "Dreams are often recreations of the past, or a simulation of a desire, and sometimes signs of the future." Twilight and Luna were now walking side by side throught the void, Luna's horn provided enough light to see each other.

       Twilight thought about Luna's words, "So, can this be a sign? Or is this just a manifestation of a subconscious fear?"

       "It is impossible to tell." Luna said, "Since we can't be sure, we need to gather all the information we can on your nightmare. Judging by how haven't awoken yet, there is still more to come." she then halted their stroll and turned to face Twilight.

       Twilight knew exactly what was coming, but she asked anyway, "What do we do then?"

       "Let the dream continue." Luna deadpanned.

       Twilight didn't like what she heard, but it was the only way. "Alright." She said with a brave look.

       "I will watch from the shadows." Luna said, putting a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. She then nodded and Luna dissappeared in a vapor of darkness.

       Twilight found herself alone in the black void, she looked around. After a few seconds she saw the glowing red eyes approach her. She didn't bother running, she was no longer afraid. Death fell upon her and brought his blood drenched blade down. Twilight closed her eyes for the impact, but felt nothing.

       She opened them and found herself sitting on a cloud overlooking Canterlot. But it wasn't the Canterlot she knew. She looked harder downward and what she saw horrified her. Canterlot was in ruins, its once beautiful and ancient architecture was now rubble and piles of debris. There were few towers left standing, the palace itself was destroyed. Fire engulfed the obliterated capitol. She then saw on the plains below the city: hundreds, no, thousands of earth ponies and unicorns killing each other. All of them clad in armor and using weapons of iron and bronze. She could hear the booming of artillery being fired at the ranks, battalions were being annihilated. She saw swarms of pegasi hacking at each other in the sky above the battlefied as well as above Canterlot. The road leading up to the city was pouring blood down like water running downhill. Soldiers were slaughtering each other. One side was trying to make it to Canterlot, the other was trying to defend it. Twilight couldn't tell the difference from one side to the other, to her it just looked like a massacre of unbelievable proportions.

        Twilight got a closer view of the battle, her face was in utter shock as she saw entire ponies turned to paste from cannon shells and blood pouring from open wounds. She saw death take thousands on the battlefield. She flew up to Canterlot and saw the fighting make its way to the gates themselves. That is where she saw her brother, Shining Armor, and a legion of the Crystal Imperial Army dug into their positions. All of their spears were pointed downwards towards the advancing enemies. Twilight couldn't understand how anypony could tell the difference from one another.

        Shining Armor yelled, "Protect your princess! Hold the line!" His armor was still the bladed combat but it still was adorned with the dark purple shade and brass engravings. "This is where we stand! This is where we hold! This! is where they! FALL!" The Crystal battalion howled their warcries as the advancing army of the opposition approached. Their spears were down and hungry, Shining Armor's horn was glowing with magic as well as the other unicorns who were in the front line. The army charged up at the crystal ponies, unicorns blasting magic and the heavily armored earth ponies pounding the ground. The earth ponies' connection with the earth gave them a special kind of magic, the combined charging of the earth ponies caused the ground to shake. The army was getting closer. Shining Armor screamed, "NOW!" and a rainbow of color erupted from the front. Lethal magic rained upon the attackers. Dozens dropped dead mid run, their bodies tumbling into the blood soaked dirt. Spears fianlly met iron and flesh as the two forces collided. Shining Armors spear gored another unicorn, he reared back and the wooden shaft snapped. An earth pony charged at the soldier next to him who had fallen back a few feet, Shining Armor then jutted his helmet out and the right underblade snagged the earth ponies neck, going through his chainmail crinnet. Blood spurted from the wound on to the side of his face, coating the right side of his helmet in blood. He then brouhgt his forehooves up and back down, parrying a spear from another ironclad earth pony. The spear dug into the ground and snapped, throwing the earth pony off balance. Shining armor used that opportunity to lunge forward and burry his foreward blade into his opponents neck, goring it through completely. the earth pony yelled in pain and Shining Armor removed the blade and threw him to the ground.

       Twilight couldn't believe what she was seeing: her own brother slaughtering others. She then heard booms off towards the city.   They were cannon shots coming from the spires of Canterlot, what few towers remained were converted into artillery towers. Shells rained and crushed the charging army of thousands. Twilight could see many soldiers mutilated by the high velocity projectiles. She could tell that her brother was still alive, defending the gates. He and the Crystal army were fighting so passionately for the lost city.

       Twilight heard a deafening roar from the bottom of the road. "No." She whispered to herself. The Alicorn of Death could be seen, his hulking black form was a truly menacing sight. He brought his forehooves down in an earth shattering pound and the ground shook harder than before. The road split down the middle. The cliffside collapsed and thousands of tons of rock fell to the plains below, taking hundreds of horrifed ponies on both sides with it. The screams of the falling outweighed that of the bleeding. The Alicorn of Death then spread his bony wings and, surprisingly, took off the ground. He flew straight towards Canterlot, his bleached white horn glowing an eldritch black. Shining armor was overtaken with fear. His eyes widened in shock at the sudden split in the earth and the appearence of a monstrous alicorn. He blasted a flare spell skyward, purple magic flashed like a firework. The next second, Princess Cadence and an entire legion of elite pegasi screamed over the crystal battalion. Cadence was clad in a decorated brass coated steal giving her an appearance of beauty and lethality.  The pegasi swooped down and flanked the opposing army on all sides and the sound of steel against flesh sounded. Cadence shouted her warcry, charging her horn as she charged at the Alicorn of Death. A blue energy beam erupted from her horn, but she did not stop moving forward. The powerful energy blast was met by an otherworldly black beam from the alicorn's horn. It met with the sound of magic colliding and Cadence's beam was quickly overtaken and she was engulfed in the black magic. Her muffled screams could be heard as dark swirls constricted her and she fell to the earth. She tumbled and rolled to a stop amidst hundreds of dead and dying bodies. Her coat covered in the blood drenched dirt. She brought her eyes up for her last time to see the alicorn chargeing at her. Like a rhinocerous, he bucked his head down then up and the massive, rusted blade sliced Cadence up the middle. She didn't have time to scream and her body flew into two directions, blood gushed from the body splitting into two lengthwise halves.

        Shining Armor witnessed this from afar and he immediately screamed in emotional pain at the loss of his bride. He was completely overtaken in bloodlust and broke rank, charging towards the alicorn as fast as he could. The alicorn saw him coming and he swung his blade back then sliced as soon as Shining Armor was upon him. He was completely oblivious to what the alicorn was doing and he charged any. The slice cleanely decapitated Shining Armor and his head flew up and bounced off the alicorns rusted peytral. His body, which was geysering blood from the neck, slid underneath him.

       Twilight Screamed a drawn out, "NO!" and tears formed in her eyes. Even though she knew this was a dream, it still shocked her to see her brother die. She looked back at Canterlot to see two figures emerge from the gates. One was clad in the brass coated steel. The ornamentation of her armor was finely done and she looked even more regal than she already was: Celestia. The other was coated in black armor lined with polished steel; her helmet blades were serrated giving her a frightening appearence on the battlefield: Luna.

       "Luna?" Twilight whispered, her eyes still red with tears. She then saw the real Luna appear next to her in a fast swirling of magic. She was incredibly interested in what was going on. Twilight gazed back down to the battle.

       Celestia glanced towards Luna. Twilight and the real Luna got closer to hear what they were saying. "I'll buy you some time." Celestia said grimly, she looked at the ground. She then talked in almost a whisper, "Do what you have to do."

       Luna's reply was just a nod.

       Celestia then spread her majestic white wings and blasted towards the approaching alicorn. Her horn glowing with the magic of the light. Tears ran down her face as she screamed and blasted at the alicorn who met her blast with his own. This time the black magic didn't immediatly overtake death's opponent but their blasts were slowly trying to gain power, with Celestia's magic slowly fading. The recoil from the blasts made them both slow down and settle on the bloody ground. Celestia's magic glowing an incredibly blinding light and Death's magic radiating an enrapturing black. Clelestia couldn't stand the fight long enough and the black magic overtook her. It swirled about her, she screamed and screamed from the feeling of death gripping her very soul. Her screams were glowing more and more hollow and death was just about to clame her. When a blast of dark magic pounded against death's rusted helmet. He broke his spell and looked up to see Luna, no...wait, that wasn't Luna.

       Twilight and Luna weren't paying attention to Luna when Celestia was battling the alicorn. They saw her and noticed that her coat was completely black, and she grew a little bigger along with her armor. Twilight gasped.

       "You think you know the true power of darkness!" A more sinister voice than Luna's escaped the black alicorn's lips. It was Nightmare Moon.

       "Even darkness can't hide you from death." the alicorn replyed coldly.

       Nightmare Moon snarled and she powered her horn. It seemed darkness itself was seeping into Nightmare Moon giving her power. She screamed as the full power of the night erupted from her horn. Nothing this powerful had ever been thrown at him.

       He roared and blasted his own magic. The two magics colliding produced an incredible shockwave, striking the surviving soldiers dead and sending Nightmare Moon and the Alicorn of Death reeling backwards. Nightmare Moon was too stunned to recover quickly enough and she was engulfed in the same black magic as Celestia. Screams of fear and anguish escaped her lips and she was thrown to Celestia's comatose side. The two rulers of Equestria were brought down to just two more bodies on the battlefield. Death slowly walked up to the bodies readying a finishing blow. His horn glew that familiar black.

       He than shot his head towards twilight and said with a voice that sent a chill down her spine, "This is the result of your mistake." He then vaporized the two princesses in a final blast.

       "NO!" twilight screamed, jumping up in bed. She was panting and sweating from the exprience. She was so scared, even if it was just a nightmare.

       She looked around her room and saw Luna teleport right to her bedside. Her face was that of shock and concern, "We need to talk." she said.

Chapter 10

     Applejack had difficulty sleeping, her dreams were plagued with nightmares. She finally rose in the middle of the night to take a break from the tossing and turning. She shivered lightly from leaving her warm bed. Her ruffled, blonde hair covered her vision but was immediatly pushed aside. The house was silent and dark, the slightest noise felt like it would wake up the world. She slowly crept to her bedroom door, careful not to make any noise. The door creeked quietly when it was slowly pulled open. The hall she entered was dark as night and it seemed to stretch into a black void, but she knew it was only a few feet. She stood at the end of the hall next to the stairs and glanced at each closed door of her sleeping friends' rooms. She squinted hard to see in blackness. Applejack strode down the hall, past all the doors, and came upon a door she rarely opened. A much strongrer creek came from its hinges, it was the door to the attic. She quietly made her way up the rough, wooden staircase until her eyes were level with the dusty, attic floor. She scanned the room until she found what she was looking for: Big Mac, perched at the only window in the room surveying the farm and road to Ponyville. Applejack took another step up, creaking the wood. Big Mac turned his head to see his sister. He was keeping watch through the night at the highest window he could get.

      "Ah can't sleep." Applejack whispered as she walked towards him.

      Big Mac gave a light nod and turned back towards the window. His stern expression in the moonlight gave away that he was not happy. Applejack neared her brother and quietly sat next to him. She never took her eyes off him, she could tell anger was rising in him.

      "What's wrong?" Applejack asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

      Big Mac slowly looked at Applejack, his stone complexion gave her a slight shiver. He glanced back towards the window and nodded his head, which signaled her to look as well.

      Applejack's mouth fell agape and her eyes widened. She saw billows of smoke and the orange glow of her town burning in the distance. The entire horizon burned a bright orange and yellow, and black pillars of smoke stretched towards the sky as if they were trying to brush the stars themselves.

      Applejack gulped and took a deep breath. "Nothing will be left." Applejack shakily whispered. "Nothing but... ashes." Images surfaced in her mind of what the aftermath would be like, and of where the soldiers would go next.

      Big Mac looked back at his sister, understanding in his eyes. He silently agreed with her and gazed back outside. He scooted a few inches closer to her and she took the hint. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. Mac only exhaled more air than usual. The moonlight bathed them in a silver shine and the night breeze brushed their fur. The hopeless sight before them soaked the two with gloom, but they had each other; and that was enough for them.

      Applejack yawned and made herself more comfortable by leaning more on her brother. He, in turn, rested on his stomach and tucked his forelegs under his chest. She used his flank as a pillow and layed down, her eyes slowly shutting from exhaustion.

      Big Mac was getting pretty comfortable in his spot. He kept watch. The sight of destruction greatly disheartened him, yet he never showed how much it really affected him. He was never one to share his emotions with anypony. Why bother them? There were more important things for them to pay attention to.

      He then looked down at his sister who was now slipping into sleep. Her frizzy blonde hair half covered her face and slightly glistened with the moonlight. She was now taking the deep, consistant breaths that one takes when asleep. He knew she felt safe around him and that cheered him up a little bit. He was also growing tired. He slid his body into a more comfortable position and felt his eyes shut. Maybe a little nap wouldn't hurt.

      Everypony had trouble sleeping throught that night.

      "Maybe it was just what I fear would happen!" Twilight stammered.

      "We can't be sure of that." Luna replied, anxiety in her voice.

     Twilight Sparkle and Princess Luna were debating on the meaning of Twilight's nightmare.

"I have never had a nightmare like that before, but what I just dreamed can't possibly happen. Right?" Twilight paced around her room.

      "We can never truly know what the future holds, Twilight." Luna answered, "That dream was more vivid than ones even I have had. It has to mean something."

      "That monstrous alicorn, what could he mean?" twilight asked.

      "There was death on a massive scale in your dream, maybe your mind was trying to conjure a representation of it in the form of another pony? From the words he spoke to you, you must've or will make a decision that will decide all of our fates and your premonition must've shown you what the outcome would be if you made the wrong one." Luna hypothosized. If Luna was good at anything, it was dream interrpreting.

      Twilight thought about Luna's theory, it was the best interrpretation she could figure. "I so hope you're wrong, princess."

      "As do I, but I fear that I am not." Luna placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. She then gave Twilight a very stern expression, "Think extremely carefully about every decision you make, big or small. Your decision on what to have for breakfast in the morning could be that very decision that dooms us all."

      "I will princess," Twilight gave the bravest look she could, she looked away away from Luna, "Pray I make the right decisions."

      Luna only nodded in response, she then said, "Get some rest. Do not speak of this to Celestia or anypony else, we don't want to set off a panic." Twilight nodded and Luna vanished in a flash of dark blue magic.

      Princess Celestia awoke and performed her daily duty of raising the sun. She loved the dawn much more than dusk, the colors seemed...brighter. She strode down a palace hallway towards the royal dining hall where her breakfast awaited her. A slight smile on her face as she walked. She looked forward to feasting on the most succulent fruits and vegetables that Equestria had to offer. She could already smell the oats. When the doors to the hall opened, she was both pleased and dissapointed. It was a slight clash of emotions that she didn't know how to feel about.

      She saw her breakfast at the head of the table, just begging to be devoured. This pleased her. What didn't was the messenger pony standing next to it with a somber expression on his face, he looked like he did not want to give the message he had. Celestia herself, did not want to hear it either. She walked slowly to her spot at the table and sat down in a dignified manner.

      "Let's get this over with." Celestia sighed as she levitated a cup of hot tea to her lips, "Which city rioted this time?"

      The messenger waited a few seconds before he spoke, he was building enough courage to tell her. "Umm, it was more than a riot, your highness."

      Through a, for lack of a better term, game of telephone the story of what exactly happened at Ponyville changed from a pony sneaking into the garrison and sabotaging the artillery powder, to the citizens of the town organizing a revolt and storming the garrison in a surprise attack, killing some of the soldiers and burning the garrison to the ground in an act of defiance.

      Celestia was completely shocked at the messenger's story. Her mouth lay agape at what she heard, she regained her composure and asked, "What happened after?"

       "They sent me to tell you while our captain was reorganizing the soldiers. Anything could've happened in my journey here."

       Celestia then closed her eyes in concentration, trying very hard to not let her anger out. "I want the nearest base to send every available soldier to Ponyville, I want every citizen arrested and the entire town razed."

       The messanger bowed and said, "I will relay your orders, your majesty." and then took off out the door.

       Celestia still couldn't believe what she heard, she called to one of her guards, "Summon my military advisors!"

       "Yes, your majesty." the gurad replied.

       Celestia looked down at her breakfast, she grimaced and pushed the plate a few inches away from her. 'I'm not hungry' she thought.

       Big Mac awoke from the sound of a hoof slamming on wood repeatedly.

       "Open up!" was heard from below.

       Mac stirred and slowly got up, yawning. Doing that involuntarily woke Applejack and she groggily said, "What's goin on?" The dawn was just rising.

       "Open this door or we will burn it down along with the rest of the house!" an angry shout was heard.

       Mac and Applejack's eyes widened in panic and they both bolted towards the stairs. They barreled down, waking everypony up in the clatter.

      Applejack made it down first, followed by Big Mac who rumbled down the stairs like a crimson tank. She flung the door open, "What's goin on out here!?"

      The soldier, who was a white coated earth pony, cut right to the chase. He pushed his way in and barked, "You are all under arrest!"  he then turned to his comrades, there were about a half a dozen, "Torch the barns, raze the fields."

      "What!?" Applejack yelled, "Y-You can't do that! This is our home!"

      "And those were my friends who died in the explosion!" The soldier snapped back, shoving her onto the floor. "How do we know that you're not the one who-!" he never finished his sentance. A well placed hoof against the side of his armored head prevented that.

      He careened back in a pained yelp as his helmet flew off and clattered against the floor some feet away.

      He looked back and came face to face with a furious and a much bigger than he Big Mac. Mac spun around and delivered an applebucking kick straight at his face. The soldier couldn't avoid it and Mac's back hooves connected, crushing the bones in his snout and propelling him back and out the door.

      The soldier landed on the dirt with a thud and spat out a few teeth through a bleeding mouth, "Light 'em up!" he painfully yelled, choking on his own blood.

      The other soldiers obeyed very eagerly and chucked torches through the windows. The unicorns in the group fired blasts throught the walls. Applejack and Big Mac took cover in the kitchen when they heard panicked screams of everypony else upstairs who had no idea what was going on.

      "I'll go!" Applejack shouted and bolted upstairs. The torches flames had already caught some of the furniture and it was spreading fast. She felt the heat as she rounded the corner up the stairs. The soldiers just sat outside and watched the house burn like it was their favorite show.

      "Fluttershy!"she yelled as she reached the top. Everypony was out in the hall confused and scared. "Fluttershy, fly the foals out the window to the backyard."

      "Bu-But but..." Fluttershy stammered.

      "Just do it!" Applejack yelled. Fluttershy immediately herded the foals to a window.

      "Rarity!" Applejack yelled again.

      "Yes?!" Rarity answered, scared out of her mind.

      "Follow me."Applejack darted downstairs again. The flames had spread and were licking the bottom steps. The heat was blasting the pair and orange shimmering light made their shadows dance.

      A splash of water soaked the steps and Big Mac shouted, "Come on!"

      Applejack and Rarity sprinted into the kitchen with Big Mac who has holding a now empty bucket in his teeth. Applejack's mind raced. What was she going to do? She then came up with a plan. "Rarity, go down in the cellar get as many saddlebags as you can and stuff 'em with as much food as you can and whatever you think we'll need."

      Rarity nodded and bolted to a nearby door.

      "Mac, go outside and make sure Fluttershy and the kids are safe." Applejack ordered. Mac nodded and went out the back door.

      Applejack's mind was still racing she was on the verge of breaking and panicking, 'That's everything' she thought. And ran downstairs to help Rarity.

       She ran down to find a very confused Rarity stuffing saddlebags. Applejack became confused as well because spread all over the cellar was confetti and half deflated party balloons. They never go down to the cellar that often so that's why they never noticed this earlier. "Just ignore it!" Applejack snapped. She began stuffing saddlebags with dried, prepackaged food that the apple family always kept stored. "That's enough! Let's go!" she snapped again after they filled half a dozen saddlebags with food. They sprinted upstairs and narrowly avoided the rising inferno. The heat and smoke was unbearable as they passed and they sighed heavily at the sweet release of the outside air.

       The flames had now completely engulfed the first floor and they were climbing fast to the second. Fire was shooting out the windows, hungry for something else to consume. The sight of her own home burning was almost too much for Applejack but what made her break wasn't the flames or the soldiers laughing at the atrocity it was a mistake she made. She looked at everyone gathered around her and realized one was missing.

        "W-Where's granny?" Applejack choked out. She panicked and her face showed it, she spun around and ran back to the house shouting, "Granny! Where are you!"

       Before she could make it back inside, Mac tackled her and pinned her down, "It's too late." He said, voice quivering.

       Applejack was now sobbing. She struggled as hard as she could to get to the house, but her brother held her down. She was crying harder than she ever had before and was now embracing her brother and sobbing in his coat. Mac felt it incredibly hard to hold back his own tears. He saw his home burning and his family in pieces, and that sadness quickly turned to rage.

       He turned towards the soldiers who were about seventy-five yards away. His face contorted in severe anger, his teeth grinded against each other in a deep snarl. His held back emotions were now gushing out in pure rage. He howled at the soldiers in anger who only replied with jeers and laughter. His sister still clutched to him, tears flowing into his fur. He didn't want to leave his sister, but he also wanted to tear apart every soldier sitting there. His hate for the soldiers and love for his sister clashed and fought in his mind.

       Then a small object flew towards the soldiers, they didn't see it coming and it connected with the center of the group. That object then burst and engulfed five of them in the fires of Hell. They scattered like roaches and rolled on the ground in agony. The ones that weren't on fire were fallen upon by a black cloaked mare armed with deadly hooks on her hooves. She tackled one and dug the hooks in his neck, she ripped up and sprayed blood all over herself. Her frayed tail twitched wildly and she jumped high into the air, avoiding the last soldier who was charging at her back. He didn't expect her to do that and he tripped and fell where she had been. She then landed on his back and brought the hooks around his face and pulled back. The tips buried themselves into his eyes, blood spurted from them and he screamed and screamed, wishing that he had been set on fire and forced to cook alive instead. The hooks went deeper until they hit grey matter, ending the soldier's misery. She appeared to be completely calm and turned towards the group huddled outside the burning house. She calmly moseied towards them and removed her hood.

      Big Mac stared in shock at what just happened and was even more shocked when he saw that the one who brutally killed those soldiers... was Pinkie Pie.

Chapter 11

      Twilight Sparkle had never been more nervous in her life. She awoke in a cold sweat and was almost too afraid to leave her bed. She finally arose and carefully checked her surroundings. "Get a hold of yourself, Twilight." she told herself with a deep breath, "I'm sure whatever this decision is I'll know it when I see it." Telling herself this calmed her down enough for her to regain her composure and get ready for the day. She went through her morning routine and made her way down to the royal dining hall for breakfast. She went over the schedule for the day in her head as she was walking. Her mind did go to food very quickly, that little crisis last night had left her famished, she couldn't wait to eat. She quickened her pace.

       She neared the doors, ready to use her magic to open them and sooth the gnawing in her stomach. But, before she could they swung open and Celestia trotted out. She didn't look happy. Twilight paused upon seeing her and wanted to ask what was wrong until Celestia beat her to the punch.

       "Twilight, come with me." Celestia deadpanned, didn't even say good morning. She continued trotting in a hurried pace, opposite the direction of Twilight's food.

       "Uh, Wh-what's going on?" Twilight asked doubletaking back at the dining hall while clumsily following Celestia.

       "We have a problem." Celestia said, looking down at Twilight, "It seems Ponyville has taken more extreme means of complaining to me about my new policies. I thought outright revolt and murder of royal troops was out of the question for civilized ponies."

       Twilight was shocked, "Wh-what?" she couldn't find the right words to say then she said, "What happens now?"

       "What happens on the large scale will be decided soon. What happens to Ponyville has already been decided" Celestia turned her eyes back to the hallway as she and Twilight made a right turn down another hallway.

       "And what's that?" Twilight asked nervously, fearing the answer.

       Celestia glared at Twilight for a second then said, "The situation is being dealt with, don't worry yourself. I don't need your mind muddled with your town during the council meeting."

       Twilight looked down, she knew nothing good was happening to her town but she also knew that she needed to be professional about the situation and not let anything that would bring personal feelings into it. "I guess that makes sense."

       A guard walked astride Celestia and informed, "The advisors are on their way to the war room, your majesty."

       "Thank you." Celestia replied. The guard left and she turned her head to Twilight, "Summon my sister, she'll be needed as well. I'll head to the war room."

       "Of course, princess." Twilight answered and broke off down another hall towards Luna's bedchambers where she knew that Luna would be getting ready to sleep through the day.

      Pinkie Pie trotted up to the group who were too shocked for words. She removed her hood and a big smile painted her face. The first pony to speak up, however, was Big Macintosh. "H-How?" was all he said.

      "How what?" Pinkie asked gleefully.

      "Y-you...you killed them." He finally spat out.

      Pinkie looked back at the smoldering bodies of the soldiers, some still alive and clawing for life. "hmm...oh yeah! I guess I did!" She turned towards Big Mac with that same smile plastered on her face. "It's awesome what you can do with magic and a glass bottle filled with gasoline!"

     Rarity and Fluttershy gave each other a worried look. At this point, Applejack had calmed down enough to notice Pinkie Pie. She said, "How did you kill them?"

     Pinkie Pie's mane twithed and her ears perked up, her face went from a smile to a face of stone. "Not here, we need to go."

     "B-But." Fluttershy spurted.

     "Now! We need to go now! More are coming." Pinkie took off towards the everfree forest.

     "Something has to be done!" Celestia slammed her hoof down on the rectangular table in the war room. She was sitting at the head, on her right was Luna and her left, Twilight. They were in the middle of the council meeting.

     "You're majesty." Celestia's civil advisor interrupted, "We don't even know if the story is genuine. For all we know, nothing could be wrong and Ponyville is just doing business as usual."

     Celestia just glared at her advisor, "Are you questioning the validity of my soldier's statement? Are you telling me that a royal soldier lied to me? To his princess?" The anger was very apparent in her voice.

     The advisor just stammered, "N-No your majesty, I'm just saying that we should be completely sure of the situation before making any major deci-" he was cut off when he felt a serious tugging at his neck and his body toppling over his chair then being dragged across the room.

    Celestia stormed across the room with the gagging and struggling advisor in tow.

    "Celestia, stop it!" Luna shouted, rising up. Celestia was deaf to it. She approached the door, flung it open and stormed to the nearest window, the other advisors were too scared to do anything and were too shocked to speak. She rose her advisor up by his bottom hooves with a yellow glow. She dangled him outside, like a toy.

     The advisor screamed in panic as he stared down at the very far distance between Canterlot and the ground.

     "SILENCE!" It's been years since Celestia had used it, but her royal Canterlot voice boomed throughout the palace. She was gritting her teeth after and slightly growled at the now silenced pony.

      The advisor just gazed at Celestia, his lips quivering and eyes watering in fear. A few guards stormed in and froze in place when they saw what was happening, they didn't dare interfere. The rest of the advisors, Luna, and Twilight were also frozen. Luna was poised to fly if Celestia were to drop the advisor, who was a flightless unicorn.

      Celestia turned the pony around and fouced him southward. "Look!" she barked. The advisor barely made out a few billows of black smoke on the horizon. "Are you telling me-" Celestia clenched her teeth and fought back her rage, "-that my town is not burning? That nopony is dying? That my people haven't revolted against me! And murdered dozens of honorable soldiers!" Celestia couldn't hold back her anger anymore and she belted out every word with passion. "Are you telling me that a soldier lied to me about this, because he thought it was humorous?!"

      Everyone held their breath for the terrified unicorn's response.

      "No." he squeaked out. "I-I was wrong." tears began to form.

      Celestia took a few deep breaths then tossed the advisor back inside. He tumbled and rolled a few times and a few guards helped him back on his hooves.

      Celestia turned and faced the rest of the council. She eyed every single one then said in a very dignified voice, "I hereby take upon myself: emergency powers over Equestria. I will stop these rebellions, find the instigators and restore order to our land. At whatever the cost."

      Luna stepped forward, "Do you realize what you're sayi-"

      "Know your place," Celestia hissed, "...Luna. You are all relieved of your positions until I resign my emergency powers."

      The advisors just looked at each other worriedly. They didn't dare object, even the military advisor's ever stone expression was broken down to a face of uncertainty behind his ornamented helmet.

      "Dismissed!" Celestia barked and everyone scurried out of the room. Twilight looked back at Celestia with a look of confusion before leaving. The only one who stayed was Luna, and she was not happy.

     Luna quickstepped to he sister, "How dare you?!"

     "How dare YOU?!" Celestia yelled in response. "How dare you question me in front of the council? You have no right to object to my decisions!"

     "How can you say that!?" Luna argued back, shocked at what her sister just said. "And how can you take sole leadership of this nation!? We are supposed to rule together, as one. Did you even know what you were claiming?"

     "I knew exactly what I was claiming. And hearing that from your mouth is unbelievable." Celestia glared at her sister.

     "You cannot take take sole leadership and become a-a dictator! You cannot run these ponies lives for them! Can't you see that what you are doing is fueling the disorder, not restoring it?!" Luna gave her soul to that statement.

     Celestia briefly paused and belted, "You have NO RIGHT! The ONLY reason you are still here and have your position is because of my good graces! Even a thousand years of exile cannot change who a pony really is! A treacherous, deceptive, usurper!" Celestia's horn began to glow a solar yellow.

     Luna's face went from anger to shock, she was completely speechless.

     "I should've let you rot on that rock!" her horn glew brighter.

     Luna gathered herself and braced her hooves down and powered her horn, making a blue, lunar glow. "Celestia! If you attack me and plunge our nation into deeper chaos ... You are no longer my sister!" Tears formed in Luna's eyes at the last statement.

     Celestia shook her head, "I lost my sister a thousand years ago." A blinding, yellow-white pillar of power erupted from Celestia's horn.

     Luna only had a split-second to react with a blue pillar of her own. The two powers collided in a tug-of-war, light flooding the room. The hissing and crackling of the two combatting energies resonated throughout the entire palace.

     Luna's mind went back to one millennium in the past, when Celestia used the elements of harmony to defeat her and banish her to the moon. Was this the same? Was she wrong like she was last time? These questions raced through her mind, but she didn't have time to answer them. Her magic was weaker than her sister's and she was losing ground, she couldn't hold back Celestia's power anymore and she buckled under the pressure.

     The beam of white magic enveloped her and propelled her screaming body backwards, scorching her coat. She flew back with incredible speed and nailed one of the stain glass artworks. It shattered from the impact, the glass shards cutting Luna's burned skin and slicing into her scorched wings. Gravity took hold of Luna and she plummeted down to the forest below. Luna barely held onto consciousness and had only enough energy to cast a protective spell before blacking out. She tumbled on the rocky slopes of the mountain, her limp body scraping and pounding the stone. Her spell could only protect so much and a leg and wing broke from the tumbling. She fell into the trees, branches snapped and bended from her broken and bloody body plummeting through. The leaves and flexible branches slowed her decent enough to make the impact on the dirt nonlethal. Luna laid there in the dirt, covered in gravel and tree sap. Her fur was a clashing of red and blue and her limbs were twisted like the tree branches she fell through. Luna was spared from the pain by the mercy of sleep.

     "Where are we going?" Applejack asked as she and the rest of her group trudged through the bowels of the everfree forest. The sun was going to set soon and that was a place you didn't want to get lost in at night.

     "To where it's safe." Pinkie replied, still in a serious tone that was foreign to anyone who knew her.

     They finally came into a clearing and saw their destination. The Castle of the Two Sisters.

Chapter 12

     A large group of guards barreled into the hallway where Celestia and Luna's duel took place. And they were wondering just what in Equestria was going on.

     Celestia shot her head towards them, "Luna has betrayed Equestria, she is somewhere in the forests below the city."

     The guards paused and gave each other uncertain looks. The guards that were there happened to be Luna's personal guard: the Lunar Elites. They were hoof-picked by Luna herself and given spells to darken their coats and given darker shades of armor to distinguish them.

     Celestia turned towards the guards, "Go and find Luna. Bring her to me." Her stone expression gave the guards chills.

     "Yes, Your Majesty." One of the guards answered and they turned and left to fulfill their task.

     Luna's eyes slowly opened and the pain that was kept at bay rushed through her broken body. She moaned and tried to move, it was incredibly painful to do so. Her chest heaved as oxygen rushed through her lungs in some very heavy and deep breaths. Luna tried to look around and assess the situation but her leg was in unbearable pain. She saw the pool of blood she was laying in and knew that she lost a lot of it.  She shut her eyes tight and gritted her teeth. She powered her horn and sent a deep blue wave of healing magic throughout her body. This was very taxing to her magical ability which was almost drained from her battle with her sister. The magic seeped into her skin and the effects were immediate, her cuts sealed and her broken bones fused. Luna held her breath throughout the healing process as feeling her bones move wasn't the most pleasant experience. She grimaced at the pain of healing until it was finally finished. She let out her breath and quickly tried to replace all the oxygen she lost in holding her breath.

    Luna slowly arose, her body still aching. 'How long?' ,she thought to herself. 'What happens now?' she knew that things had officially gotten out-of-hoof and Celestia needed to be stopped, but how?

    She staggered forward through the dark forest. The darkness was most welcome to the lunar princess, she felt the most comfortable in her own element. She finally stumbled into a clearing of tall grass and a few flowers. She gazed up at the silver brilliance of the moon which was in it's half phase. 'I don't remember raising the moon.' Luna thought with a frown, 'Had Celestia already taken that responsibility again?'

     Luna's train of thought was broken by the grass rustling, she looked at the noise and soon found herself surrounded by twenty five of her elites. They all encircled her and closed in.

     Luna held her chin up and, with a face of resolve, choked out, "Come to finish what Celestia started?"

     Then, as if choreographed, all the elites bowed down before Luna. The guard nearest her, who had the silver striped, jet black crest of the captain, said in the most respectful tone , "My princess." he rose his head to face Luna and asked, "Our loyalty is yours and yours alone. What are your orders?"

     Luna turned and scanned her guards, they looked at her eagerly awaiting her command. "Celestia will plunge Equestria into chaos! My duty is to Equestria and her people. My sister must be stopped." She looked at the dirt at her feet. "I must stop her."

     "How will we help you, Your Majesty?" The captain asked.

     "Return to Canterlot." Luna scanned her guards again, "Gather the rest of the elites. And very discreetly, gather all of your weapons and gear from the royal armory. Does Celestia know you've defected?" She turned towards the captain, who was a dark brown coated earth pony, his defining helmet glowing in the moonlight.

     "No, Your Majesty. She sent us to find you and bring you to her. But she is not our princess." The captain said very solemnly.

     "Good. That should make your job a lot easier, we need a rally point. Suggestions?" She asked the captain again.

     "There is a good vantage point on a hill a few miles south, that would be good place to set up a camp and defensive positions. No, doubt when Princess Celestia learns of our defection, she'll bring the might of Equestria down upon us." The captain answered in a confident tone.

     "No bloodshed." Luna shook her head, "At least, as little as possible."

     "Your Majesty, I'm afraid- Celestia will bleed Equestria dry before she gives up the throne. Bloodshed might be inevitable.

     "I know." Luna lowered her head, dreading what the future might bring. "Just go, I'll set up a beacon. Meet me at the hill when your task is complete."

     "Aye, my princess." The captain bowed his head and the elites rushed off back to Canterlot.

     The group neared the castle, with Pinkie taking the lead, followed by Applejack, Big Mac, Rarity and Fluttershy with the CMC. They were weary from the events that perspired that day. They crossed the old bridge very cautiously. The creaking and straining of the ropes and wood caused some uneasiness amongst the group. They neared the steps when a thud was heard and a spear was seen jutting out of the ground. It was still rattling from the impact.

     "Halt!" a masked, navy blue unicorn was seen at the top step, with a spear on either side of him in light blue levitation fields. Three more masked unicorns appeared beside him, also levitating spears.

     Pinkie Pie yelled up, "It's ok Bronzy! They're friends!"

     "Pinkie Pie? What in the name of-?" The masked unicorn stammered and lowered his spears, "Jus-just get in!"

     A few minutes later, everyone was rushed into the castle and brought to the inner rooms where Bronze Buckler and his revolutionaries had set up there camp.

     "What did I tell you about bringing others Pinkie?" Bronze wasn't happy.

     "But they're my bestest friends!" Pinkie whined, "Can't they stay? Maybe they can help us?"

     "That depends," Bronze said, removing his mask and eyeing the rest of the group, "How do you feel about the current form of government? About Celestia?"

     Applejack and Big Mac looked at each other, their faces stern and confident. Applejack looked at Bronze and said, "Let's just say we got an ax to grind with Celestia."

     "Beautiful!" Bronze interjected with a smile. "It just so happens, we've been needing a few individuals like yourselves." Bronze walked over to a map on a table and stared down at it. The room they were in was trashed. Garbage, empty bottles, and old furniture were scatterd about, and dust caked everything.

     "Can't we get some sleep first?" Applejack asked.

     "Oh yes, of course. What was I thinking? You've had a long trip" Bronze said with a chuckle and a hoof to his forehead. "But first let me introduce you. I'm Bronze Buckler, those guys over there are my brothers." He pointed his hoof back at the other three unicorns who still had their masks on, "That's Glowing Shield, Barricade, and Spearhead." They all nodded in acknowledgement. "Our father was a soldier, one of the best. He wanted us to follow in his footsteps, but then..." He trailed off and paused. "Anyway! You folks are tired." He perked back up and said, "Hey guys, show these folks to some suitable sleeping conditions!"

     The three unicorns led the group to another part of the castle, to what they guessed was the barracks. It was still as broken down and dusty as the rest of the place. They all got comfortable where they were and Spearhead walked in levitating some bed mats, they were dirty and old. These mats have seen one too many camping trips.

     "Divide them amongst yourselves, we don't have one for all of you. We weren't expecting guests." he said in a quiet, raspy voice and the unicorn trio left the barracks.

     There were only five mats. Applejack looked at Rarity and said, "The foals will each get one and you and Flutteshy get one. Me and my brother can go without." she smiled and nudged Big Mac. "Besides, I wanna keep watch for a little bit. I don't exactly trust these ponies."

     "Well they treated Pinkie Pie well enough." Rarity said laying out the bed mats in a grid with her magic, doing her best to make them look nice.

     "I guess you're right." Applejack yawned. "Speaking of her. Where'd she go?"

     Just then Pinkie Pie came bouncing in with her own dirty mat. She threw it down and shouted, "This is just like slumber party! Only without the cake -yawn- I miss cake." She walked around her mat three times and curled up in a ball on it.

     Applejack wanted to ask her where she had been this whole time, but answers could wait. 'I am awfully tired." she thought. She looked at the rest of the group and The CMC huddled together with Fluttershy. They were still scared, and Fluttershy did her best to make them feel safe. Rarity was getting comfortable and Big Mac was making his spot in the corner of the room. He did feel a little awkward being the only guy in the room. He wasn't used to this.

     Applejack went and plopped down next to her brother. 'Everything will work out.' she thought, 'It always has.'

Chapter 13

     The moon provided adequate light for the princess of the night. She slowly trotted to the rally point through the forest. She was deep in thought. She finally had time to think about the sequence of events that led to her assumed exile. 'I have my elites.' She thought. 'But that is not enough to stop my sister.' Luna knew she needed the support of the people if she was going to get anywhere in deposing Celestia. 'This may end without bloodshed, if I can just get the ponies of Equestria to support me. She will have to step down.' Luna contemplated on ways to do this as quickly as possible. 'What if she won't abdicate? What if she would rather die then give up control?' Luna's doubts arose but, she quickly shook them out. Regarding them as absurd fantasy. 'I know Celestia, and she may be stubborn and shortsighted at times, but she is honorable. She will step down if she is shown that she is wrong.'

      Just as she finished her thought, she came upon the hill her captain was talking about. A river ran along the base and a grassy plateau topped it. It was in the middle of the plains, making it a perfect vantage point. With the river on one side and open terrain on the other, it was strategically sound. There weren't many clouds in the area normally so an air drop from a cloud could be spotted and defended against pretty easily. Luna weighed all of this in her head and nodded to herself at the facts. She was happy with the hill.

     She flew to the top and sniffed the air, it was fresh and free. But, she couldn't bring herself to smile at the sweet air that entered her nostrils. She gazed out across the plains and at the base of the hill, she immediately thought about all the defenses and traps she could put in. Luna always saw herself as the warrior princess, always quick to act and use force. Also with a strategic mind when it came to conflict. She was the one who planned the attack on Sombra's sanctum a millennium ago. Luna thought again, Celestia was always the gentle, understanding one. She would always settle Luna down when she knew conflict was not the answer, Always trying to settle everything without violence. Luna turned her mind to the hill once more. She gazed at the northern horizon, towards Canterlot. She took a deep breath and thought how her elites were fairing in the city. Then she looked at the ground. "We need a name for this camp." She said to herself, "Fort Artemis." She smirked to herself. She liked the sound of it. "The fort where we will plan to return Equestria to harmony." She said, sounding hopeful.

     Captain Brave Hooves and his elites strode the city of Canterlot under the night sky. There ceremonial dark stained bronze armor soaking in the moonlight. Mostly Everypony was tucked away in bed, sleeping the night away to return to a life of aristocracy the next day. A few guards in ceremonial brass coated bronze armor patrolled. Keeping the streets clear of trouble makers.

     Most of the guards that saw the elites just kept their distance. They didn't want to mess up the comfortable routine of Night Watch by getting involved in whatever the Lunar Elites were doing.

     The Lunar Elites always marched quietly, almost too quiet. Their silence was almost otherworldly, their hoofsteps almost made no sound at all, and the sound of breathing or armor clanking was nonexistent. It was as if something was absorbing their sound. It always creeped out the other guards.

     The group of elites silently marched through Canterlot to the Canterlot Army Base, the largest in the country. They returned to their wing of the barracks. Upon arriving they immediately told of the situation.

     Two Hundred elites in all were ready to serve Luna, they just needed to get there gear from the armory. The captain met with his lieutenants about what the best course of action would be. Diverting from their orders and attempting a direct coup was out of the question. Celestia has probably doubled her guard count and she wouldn't hesitate in using her own alicorn magic against them. They decided the best way to go would be to go to the armory directly. The captain would lead fifty into the base and retrieve their armor in crates, they would haul all 200 suits out at once. The royal armory was massive, housing enough weapons and armor for an entire army, along with barrels of powder and thousands of cannon shells of all kinds.

      Captain Brave Hooves marched up to the guard at the iron doors. The armory was a huge, warehouse looking building at the back of the base. It's rear wall being the mountain that Canterlot was built on. It had no windows and had reinforced walls.

     The guard looked uneasy at the approach of the elites. He was a rather short unicorn, barely fitting into his armor. He looked up at the captain with a touch of fear in his eyes.

     "Well? Open the door!" The captain ordered. Leaning his head in closer to the guard.

     The unicorn cleared his throat and said with a shaky voice, "Umm, st-st-standard protocol says that all entries into the armory after 2100 hours must have written orders from the base c-commander. N-new protocol instituted by Princess Celestia. Sir."

     Brave Hooves just gave the guard a look of slight surprise, he hadn't expected that, "Who do you think ordered me to get my soldiers suited up!" He snapped,

     The guard just stammered and sputtered, "I-I-I just need to see the order." He was a little frightened to say the least.

     "Princess Celestia doesn't need to write down an order that should be a given to begin with." Brave responded, "She just had to fight her own sister and, literally, blast her out of the castle. She sent the best unit in Equestria to find her, capture her, and bring her in for prosecution! That unit belongs to me. Now you will open the door and give my soldiers their gear! Or so help me, I will drag you to the Princess herself and make you explain to her why her orders weren't carried out!"

     The guard didn't miss a beat, he spurted, "Yes Sir!" and he fumbled with the keys and opened the door. The iron door scraped on the cement floor and the captain walked in with the rest of the elites filing in.

     Lanterns on the wall flooded warm yellow light on the interior and armor lined the walls in their own small cubicles with the name of the armor's respective soldier on each cubicle. Spears lined the other side of the wall, dozens of spears. Luckily there was nopony inside and the elites moved to their own section of the armory where their jet black, combat armor was stored. They each ditched their ceremonial armor and donned their pristine combat armor. It was a non-reflective black, so it would soak in the light, making them near impossible to see at night. The helmet blades were sharpened to perfection and the spiked and bladed horseshoes and shin guards were a class higher than others.

     They put their comrades' armor in crates and loaded them up into carts. Brave Hooves pushed one more crate onto a cart. This crate was beautifully crafted, The wood was smooth and decorated with carvings on the trim. It was painted a navy blue and was black at the trim. The Lunar Seal of a half moon on it's side with its ends pointing upwards and a spire rising from the middle of the moon and had a white star at the tip of the spire. Brave Hooves knew exactly what was in the box and he ordered that the crate was to be taken as well. Fifty elites tugged their own cart. Armor, spears and other supplies were being hauled out in a train out of the base.

     The lunar supply train was halted at the gaits by a dozen guards with the base commander in the center, he had the red crest of a commander on his ornamented helmet. "Whoa! whoa! what do you think your doing?" The commander shouted.

     Brave Hooves quickly strode up to the commander and said, "Just carrying out orders Commander."

     "What orders? That's alot of gear you're hauling." The commander said peering over the captain's shoulder at the abundance of weapons and gear. "I wasn't informed of this." He brought his attention back to the captain, "If I recall correctly, it's standard protocol for the base commander to be informed when a company arms itself using weapons and armor from his own armory. Care to explain what you're doing?" The commander was being as condescending as possible with his statement, but it didn't intimidate the elite.

      "The orders of Princess Celestia. Commander." Brave Hooves spat, bringing his face closer to the commander's, he continued, "I apologize for going over your head, but we have a crisis on our hooves. Luna the defector has attacked our princess and is now loose in the countryside! Princess Celestia has charged us, the Lunar Elites to track her down and bring her to justice. If you don't believe me then feel free to wake the princess up and get confirmation."

      The air became dead quiet and the guards waited eagerly for the commander's response. Everypony was frozen including the commander. He finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity of silence. "Alright...get your soldiers out there." a touch of humility in his voice. He stepped aside and the guards did the same. As the train passed the commander stopped the captain and brought his head close enough to the captain's that he could feel his breath. And the commander whispered, "Go over my head again and you'll regret it."

      The captain just gave a look of acknowledgement and was about to continue before he was stopped for another split second. "I mean it." The commander said.

      The captain just glared at him for a second before continuing. The train made it out of the base and regrouped with the rest of the elites, and they continued to the rally point. After a solid hour they arrived at the hill, they immediately began distributing the weapons and made plans for fortifications.

      "Excellent work, captain." Luna said, "we should stand a chance now."

      "Thank you, princess." Brave Hooves nodded, "There is one more thing you should see."

      "What is it?" Luna replied.

      "This way, your majesty." He trotted to one of the carts. The crate he was looking for was already unloaded. He motioned towards it. "I felt it was appropriate to bring this as well." The crate he was motioning to was the navy blue, hoof-crafted container with the lunar symbol on the sides.

      Luna knew what was inside and sighed, "You were right to think so. however much my heart disagrees." She pulled the top of with her magic. She effortlessly lifted the ornamented lid and set it aside. She gazed inside at the contents. She pulled an object out with a dark blue glow around it. It was a helmet. Completely black, a long, sleek, serrated blade across the top. Two curved, jagged blades stretched from the jaw piece. The tips of the blades were silver. It was a beautiful piece of armor/weaponry. The eye ports were sharp and pointed downward giving the expression of extreme anger. An incredibly thick face plate curved around the front. Scaly spikes pointed downward lined the back of the helmet. It was made out of a magic tempered steel alloy. It was nearly indestructible.

      Luna gazed into the eye ports as if she saw a separate set if eyes inside. She flipped the helmet around and slid it on. She took a breath and tasted the steel in the air. She hadn't worn this helmet in ages. She strapped the cloth straps to secure it on her head. And turned towards the captain. The helmet gave the look of a professional warrior. She looked even more menacing than she already was.

      Brave Hooves just nodded to his princess.

      Luna looked back at the rest of her armor meticulously placed in the crate and sighed. The very thought that she needed this armor troubled her soul.

      Rainbow Dash awoke to trumpets playing. It's been three days since she finished basic training and she just got her new assignment. She is to be stationed at Cloudsdale Air Force Base as a grunt Interceptor. Her speed was taken into account when the decision for her position was made. It was a security forces job mainly.

      Rainbow Dash rose from her bunk in a dorm at Steelwing Air Force Base, about 60 miles north of Canterlot. She yawned as she slowly planted her hooves on the wooden floor. She was still used to the drills of basic training and she made sure her bed was in pristine condition before leaving for the mess hall.

      She got a tray of food and sat at the end of a long cafeteria table away from the rest of the airmen eating their breakfast. She sniffed the warm oats in a compartment of her tray a few times and smirked. They smelled cheap and typical of a cafeteria, 'Well beggars can't be choosers.' She thought. She took a bite and downed it in a single gulp. She smirked again at the blandness of the food. Before she could take another dreaded bite she heard a sharp, female voice from behind her.

      "Mind if I sit here?"

      Rainbow Dash turned, expecting to see another airman, and slightly jumped from who it actually was. She turned to see Spitfire in a uniform that Rainbow Dash had never seen her wear: armor. It was sleek and thin, but it was made of the best skysteel bits could buy. The armor plates were a light blue, blending in with the sky and was aerodynamically shaped. The armor gave her the appearance of a bullet with spikes at really flat angles running along her back. She wasn't wearing her helmet, Which is how Rainbow Dash recognized her.

      Rainbow Dash immediately jumped out of her seat and gave a sharp salute.

      "As you were." Spitfire quickly said.

      Rainbow Dash brought her hoof back down and took a breath.

      "So, do you mind?" Spitfire asked again with a smile.

      Rainbow Dash just shook her head, "No, ma'm."

      Spitfire sat down next to Dash, her armor slightly clinging. She glanced over and said, "So I hear you're getting stationed in Cloudsdale."

      "Uh yes, ma'm," Dash replied, "Security forces. I'll be an interceptor."

      Spitfire lightly nodded, "Sounds fun. A position like that should keep you busy for a while, it certainly takes advantage of your exceptionable speed."

      "Thank you, ma'm." Rainbow Dash replied sternly.

      "Please, drop the rank." Spitfire shot, "It's Spitfire. I'm not an old mare." She then smiled and Dash followed suit. "I have a little proposal."

      Rainbow Dash cocked her head slightly, "What is it?"

      "The Wonderbolts could use a pony like you. Your speed and skill rivals that of current members." Spitfire offered.

      Rainbow Dash's eyes brightened up and her ears shot towards the ceiling, a smile forced its way on her face.

      "We're actually looking for new members, Princess Celestia has plans for us. I could get you re-stationed to Canterlot and recommend you for membership." Spitfire said with a smile on her face, she could sense Rainbow Dash's excitement.

      Rainbow Dash Immediately half-shouted "That would be aweso-!" then she remembered her training and the importance of protocol. She stopped herself and cleared her throat, "I would be honored, ma'm."

      Spitfire raised an eyebrow, a smile on her face.

     "Spitfire." Dash said.

     "Very good, I know Soarin and Fleetfoot would vouch for you, I'll be seeing you in Canterlot." She then arose and walked out.

     Rainbow Dash quietly fist pumped and whispered "Yes!"  'This is so awesome!' She thought. 'I'm finally a wonderbolt! I've been waiting my whole life for this!' She squealed to herself, 'I can't wait to tell my friends about th-' She stopped herself and her happy complexion dropped into a look of sudden realization. She remembered exactly why she was there. She gasped a short breath. She had been dreading this moment, memories came flooding back to her, the fight, the fire, the killing. Reality had caught up to her at the worst time possible. Rainbow Dash breathed heavily and quickly, completely overwhelmed by these memories and experiences. She began breathing heavier, she got up and abandoned her now cold breakfast and staggered towards the door in quickened, forced steps. She pushed the door open and shot for the sky. She flew higher and higher, the wind rustling her mane. She found a cloud high in the atmosphere. She collapsed into its fluffy texture, and sobbed with her face buried in the soft cloud as if it were a pillow.  Reality assaulted her with barrages of guilt and emotional pain. She continued to sob and stammer incoherent sentences to herself. "I didn't... mean it." Her words were sporadic, some short, some drawn out. She kept sobbing, "I'm so sorry." She drew out the last word in a long train of tears. She continued to cry and wallow in her misery.

      "Rise and Shine!" a shout echoed through the ruined barracks of the ancient castle of the two sisters. Applejack slowly forced her eyes open and turned her head towards the noise. Bronze Buckler was standing in the doorway, his black mane ruffled, a sign that he had just awoken as well.

       Bronze saw the Applejack was awake and said, "Meet me in the planning room when your ready. We have a lot to talk about." He waved his hoof towards the others, "Take all the time you need to gather your bearings." He then slowly trotted off with a yawn.

       Applejack yawned herself and saw Big Mac getting up. Her back ached from sleeping on the floor. She groaned as she arose from the hard stone floor. Everypony else was already yawning and stretching on there bed rolls. Applejack smacked her lips and slightly grimaced from the morning taste in her mouth, she was also incredibly thirsty. She turned to her brother, "I guess I'll see what he wants." and then tiredly trotted out.

Chapter 14

     Applejack yawned when she entered the room that she first met Bronze in the night before. Her trademark hat covering her disheveled mane.

     "How'd ya sleep?" Bronze asked, gazing down at a large map of Equestria on an old table. The map was dotted with X's and arrows at very precise locations.

     "Good enough." Applejack replied. Swiveling her head, surveying the room. The room was still just as trashed as she remembered from last night.

     "Come here for a second." Bronze motioned his hoof over to the map he was studying.

     Applejack walked over to the table, stood next to Bronze and peered down at the map. She could see all the major cities in bold print and the web of roads connecting them. Then in smaller print she could see the names of towns and villages. One that took her attention was a red X over the word Ponyville and an arrow that went northwest of it to a circle around the word: Fort Wingstead. She asked, "What is all this?" waving a hoof over the map.

     "It's Equestria's future, Miss... uh." Bronze answered.

     "Applejack."

     "It's Equestria's future Applejack. The liberation from the tyrrany of the solar princess."

     "Ya sure like using fancy words." Applejack deadpanned.

     "Huh, I guess I do." Bronze said, bringing his head up and staring forward in thought, he quickly looked back down and continued, "Well, a better explanation of it would be our plans for Equestria's future. None of us could take Celestia head-on. So..."

     "So ya nip at her heels like forest mice." Applejack cut off Bronze with a stern look.

     "Think of a better way we can resist." Bronze shot back.

     "Why are ya even doing this?" Applejack asked, "How did this start? Why do ya hate Celestia so much?"

     "I suppose you do deserve an explanation as to who I am and the reasons behind me and my brothers' actions." Bronze turned towards Applejack and said, "But first, what's your story?"

     "I think it would be easier for all of us to get to know each other with everypony else here." Applejack said.

     "You're right." Bronze said, putting a hoof up to his head and chuckleing, "Well the reason I asked you in here was to tell you of a plan that my brothers and I have been working on."

     "I don't know. We hardly know y'all, we appreciate ya takin us in but we still don't even know each other." Applejack said, cautious.

     "Of course, of course." Bronze chuckled again, "I do apologize. It's just that we've been needing some ponies such as yourself and that gargantuan, red friend of yours for a while."

     "He's my brother." Applejack chimed.

     "Is he? Well then you'd be the perfect team for what we need accomplished." Bronze said, a little cheerful. "But first, we should all get something to eat, we all can tell each other's tales over a good breakfast, wouldn't you think so, Applejack?"

     Applejack just nodded her head and smiled. The thought of food was very welcoming, she could feel her stomach begging for a meal.

     "Excellent." Bronze smiled, "Gather your friends and meet us in the main hall. You just make a right from the old barracks and..."

     "Up the spiral stairs and to the left." Applejack interrupted with a grin. "I've explored this place before."

     "Alright. I'll see you there then." Bronze said and the two left for their own destinations.

     Within a few minutes everypony was gathered in the main hall of the castle. A long stone table spanned the center. The surface was covered with cracks and moss, a few chunks were missing as well. There were no chairs so a few crates and boxes were used in place of them. On one side sat Applejack and the rest of her group and the other sat Bronze and his three brothers. There wasn't much of a spread, most of it was wild edibles found in the everfree forest. Applejack shared some of the food they brought from the farm, adding a little more variety.

      Bronze was the first to speak after everypony got their share, "I guess we can start with names and our stories as to how we are where we are." He scanned the rest of the group. "I'll start." He cleared his throat. "As you know, my name is Bronze Buckler. My father was a soldier in the Equestrian Army: a battlemage. Our family moved from base to base, throughout the years." Bronze's complexion then turned grim. "About a year ago, he left on a big deployment. His company was sent to the deserts of the southern frontier. Are you familiar with Equestria's southern expansion?" He gave a quizzical look to Applejack.

     Applejack replied, "I think so, isn't Appleoosa one of the new settlements?"

     "Yes it is." Bronze said with a nod, "Equestria's borders were going further and further into the uninhabited southern desert. Appleoosa was one of the forerunner colonies for the expansion. Anyway, my father's company was sent to the southernmost colony, named Sandy Hoof. You can guess how they came up with that." He took a sip of water from a canteen and continued, "It turns out, the south wasn't uninhabited after all, the Changelings had made a home out of the desert and they claimed Sandy Hoof and a few more of the southernmost colonies and forts as their own."

     "I had no idea about this." Rarity interjected, "Changelings?"

     "Yup." Bronze answered, "I wouldn't expect any of you to know about that. Celestia kept that under wraps. Well, my father's company was sent there to give some extra protection to the colony and to show their queen that Equestria intended to stay. It was a bluff. Celestia had no intention of defending the colonies if the Changelings attacked. The reasons for this, one can only speculate. It certainly doesn't coincide with her actions now." He paused and stared at his half-eaten food for a second and sighed. "Celestia herself actually came down and met with the Changeling queen. Tensions were high of course, but surprisingly both parties were extremely professional about the situation.  They deliberated and came to an agreement, Celestia was to recognize the 'Changeling Supremacy' as a sovereign nation, and to relinquish a good chunk of the south to them. The parts of the south that good ponies worked hard for. But, as the deliberations were going on, the Changeling Army had already moved in. They swarmed the helpless colonies like locusts. Hundreds of thousands of them."

     His tone and expression turned solemn, "They didn't kill the colonists, but they did drain them of all their love and emotion. They became emotionless husks of their former selves. When Celestia learned of this, she was enraged but she didn't do a single thing about it. She just gave in to Chrysalis's demands and left with her tail between her legs. She had all the colonists and soldiers evacuated. My father's company was taken by surprise. He was drained of all feeling just like the rest of the colonists."

      "It seems like Celestia didn't have a choice." Applejack said apologetically.

      "She could've fought back! or at least allow our soldiers to defend themselves!" Bronze snapped.

      "I'm sorry, sugar cube. I didn't mean to upset you." Applejack quickly said, calming Bronze down.

      "It's ok, it's ok, I'm sorry too." Bronze took a breath and continued, "Well, the Changelings took everything and forced the drained colonists out with nothing, their livelihoods, gone. Their lives, ruined. Most were so drained they lost their will to live. Over half the colonists just wandered the desert until they died of dehydration. The very few that actually made it back to civilization were told to keep quiet by Celestia. And what the Changelings didn't tell them was that the draining process also destroys the bodies immune system. Many more died of disease."

      "How do you know all this?" Rarity asked.

      Bronze answered, "My father told me. Against Celestia's command, he told me everything that happened and what others told him while he was down there." His voice turned to held back anger, "Just before he died from a simple cold."

      "I'm sorry, Bronze. I don't know what to say." Applejack said, looking down.

      "You don't have to say anything." Bronze said, he glanced at his three brothers who remained silent the entire time, then turned his attention to the group. "Because of Celestia, our father and over a thousand others are dead. And she covered it up. We plan to make her and those who support her pay." He sighed, "Now you know."

      After a brief pause he spoke again, "Well, now that that's out of the way. What's your story? How did you ponies end up here?"

      Applejack put a hoof around her brother and sister who were sitting either side of her and said, "Well, this is Big Mac, and this is my little sister Applebloom." Applebloom waved and Mac just nodded. "The unicorn is Rarity, and that's her sister, Sweetie Belle. That's Fluttershy and Scootaloo, and y'all know Pinkie Pie" Applejack pointed a hoof towards each respective pony and they all greeted Bronze in their own way.

      She told of how they were socializing when they heard the garrison explode and how they regrouped and made their run for the farm. Bronze listened intently and was very interested in Applejack's story. She came to the part right before they made it out of Ponyville. "We were runnin down an alley, when we heard a shout behind us. There were two guards." She sighed at what was coming, "They tried to take Sweetie Belle from Rarity for some stupid reason, probably just cause they wanted to. Rarity ended up stabbin the guard right in the eye with a pair o'scissors." She shuddered at the memory, "He screamed and I yelled for all of us to run." She paused and glanced at Fluttershy, then back to Bronze, "We all ran and the other guard got a hold of Fluttershy and we didn't know that she was caught and..."

      Fluttershy started to quietly sob. Rarity did her best to comfort her.

      Applejack was about to continue when Bronze cut her off, "I think I know what happens."

      Applejack nodded then said, "Well, he didn't get too far, I looked back to see that she wasn't with us and I ran back for her, I couldn't believe what I was seein. I don't know what happened, Somthin just took a hold of me and I charged at him and gave him the strongest applebuckin kick I ever gave." She shut her eyes and grimaced at the thought of seeing his head crush against the wall. "My hoof must've got past his helmet 'cause i crushed his head against that wall. I've never seen so much blood." She held back tears of guilt and her voice gave away that fact, "I-I've never killed a pony."

     Bronze grimaced, "I'm sorry to hear that. Killing is never easy, but sometimes it's necessary."

     Applejack then told of the events that took place afterwards, of the guards that burned down her house, and of the death of her grandmother. "Then Pinkie Pie came and killed all the soldiers,  I couldn't believe it. Pinkie Pie isn't like that. Well, she took us here and here we are.

     Bronze nodded his head a few times, "That's quite the story, so you're pretty much sealed into this aren't you?"

     Applejack nodded, "How did ya find Pinkie Pie anyway?"

     Bronze shrugged, "We found her in the everfree just babbling to herself about fire or something. She was just wandering around like an old cat wandering out to die. We took her in and she was very willing to do whatever we asked."

     "Really?" Rarity asked. "So that's where she's been."

     "I guess, It's obvious you know her." Bronze said.

     "She's one of our best friends." Applejack added with a smile.

     "That makes two of us." Bronze said, smiling back. "She's quite resourceful."

     Pinkie Pie just sqeed and said, "Aww you guys are my bestest friends! I know! We can have a party!"

     "All in good time Pinkie," Bronze said, "First, we have a task we need done."

     "Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie said gleefully.

     "Where are they!?" Celestia was pacing in the palace halls, growing very impatient. The longer Luna was loose, the more Celestia grew uneasy.

     "Princess?" was heard and Celestia turned around to see Twilight Sparkle, with a very confused look on her face.

     Celestia sighed and forced a smile, "What is it Twilight?"

     "What's going on? What happened to Princess Luna?" Twilight asked, eager for answers.

     "Twilight, She..." Celestia sighed and put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder, "She has betrayed Equestria."

     Twilight gasped, "What? How?"

     "She openly attacked me, tried to usurp the throne. Luckily I was able to defend myself, but, in the process, she was cast out of the castle. She is now loose in the countryside. I've soon guards to capture her and bring her in for justice."

     "That's- that's unbelievable!" Twilight was completely shocked at what she just heard. She took a step back. "So-so she attacked you?! outright?!"

     "I'm afraid this isn't the first time she has done this." Celestia said, recalling the banishment of Nightmare Moon.

     "I-I still can't believe this. What happens now?" Twilight asked, eyes still wide from shock.

     "I'm afraid, I don't know." Celestia deadpanned.

     "We'll need more support to stand against Celestia." Luna said to Captain Brave Hooves and his lieutenants around a makeshift table with a map of Equestria under a small tent in the now brand new Fort Artemis. The cold morning wind blew across the fort. Small flags fluttered in the wind, the walls of the tent bowed against the wind. The sound of building and working sounded through the fort. Everypony was busy, the elites were not only soldiers but also carpenters, masons, and laborers. Each one had a skill in building.

     "How do we go about doing that?" Brave asked, raising a hoof.

     "I see that there is another fort near us to the south." Luna focused at the map, "Fort Wingstead. Perhaps we can convince the soldiers there to join our cause."

     "And if they don't?" A lieutenant asked with a gruff voice.

     Luna sighed, "No bloodshed."

     "That may be impossible, Princess." Brave said solemnly.

Chapter 15

    "Fluttershy? Can you take the kids outside, they could use some fresh air right now." Applejack asked with a smile.

    "Of course." Fluttershy replied and proceeded with Applejack's request.

    "I think I'll join her." Rarity said, getting up and following Fluttershy, "Be sure to fill us in when you're done here." She turned her head back as she was walking out.

     "So, what's this plan o'yours?" Applejack asked from across the table.

     "Alright," Bronze began, "Pinkie's stunt in Ponyville was to lure soldiers from neighboring forts, to weaken the defenses there."

     "So destroying the Ponyville garrison was just a ploy?" Applejack asked.

     "Yes, we needed the surrounding forts to be as undermanned as possible for what we plan on doing." Gleaming Shield added with a rough voice, it was deeper than Bronze's. It was the first time Applejack heard him speak.

     Bronze nodded, "Exactly, and so far two forts have sent their regiments to Ponyville. The nearest is Fort Wingstead, it's quite a ways north and the next is Fort Mane far to the east."

     "And what did you want me and Big Mac to do?" Applejack asked. Big Mac gave a look of confusion.

     "Well, we were gonna have Pinkie Pie tackle this again. But, we need a pony or two with a little more...tact. We managed to get two undamaged sets of armor one male the other female. Both of which are made for earth ponies. The bulky helmets don't accommodate our horns."

     Applejack saw where Bronze was going, "So this is where Big Mac and I come in?"

     "Exactly!" Bronze said with a smile. "We need you and your brother here to deliver a shipment of powder and ammunition to Fort Wingstead."

     "I'm sure that's not all." Applejack deadpanned.

     "You're very astute, Applejack." Bronze rose an eyebrow, but kept his grin. "The shipment will be... rigged. You just have to get out of the small fort in time before it detonates."

     "Sounds dangerous." Big Mac grumbled, "I don't like it."

     "The odds of success are pretty high." Bronze interjected.

     "What if they suspect somethin'? How do we know they won't check the cart?" Applejack asked.

     "Why would they?" Bronze said, "It's a pretty routine shipment. The gate guards are always half asleep anyway."

     "There's still one thing," Big Mac said, "Where is this 'shipment'?"

     "It's hidden at the base of this castle, we ambushed it two days ago. I need to make it clear that time is of the essence, that shipment is already a day late and we need to deliver it to the fort."

     "They're going to ask why it's late." Applejack said worriedly.

     "Any excuse would work, do you honestly think that the guards care? They're not gonna want to risk getting their hide tanned by the captain for removing himself from his post and asking unnecessary questions."

     "I don't know." Applejack breathed out in a sigh, she looked at the ground in contemplation.

     "Listen," Bronze said, sobering his tone, "If we don't do this, nothing will change. The soldiers will stay and Celestia would find us eventually. I'll be executed along with my brothers. You and your group would be imprisoned for a very, very long time. Look, if we destroy this fort then the soldiers in Ponyville right now won't have a fort to return to, they will have to go to Fort Mane and soldiers and engineers from Canterlot would be sent to rebuild the fort and re-garrison it. This is all part of a much larger plan, Applejack.

     "And what is that?" Applejack asked, still a little skeptical.

     Bronze sighed, "I prefer not to tell you."

     "If you want my help, you better tell me what your ultimate goal is." Applejack said, steel in her voice.

     "How about this," Bronze replied, "You carry out this task, and I will tell you everything. You're already sealed into this little revolution of ours, so why not?"

     Applejack looked at her brother, her face shown that she wanted his help.

     Big Mac closed his eyes and, ever so slightly, nodded.

     "Alright we'll do it."

     Celestia was tired of waiting, She paced up and down the palace halls, a clear sign that she was worried. Her hoofsteps echoed through the halls. 'Where is Luna? Where are the guards I sent to find her?' Celestia argued with herself. 'Did she kill them? Did they join her? Or are they just lazy and went home.' She grimaced to herself, the stress of the whole situation was getting to her. 'They had all night to find her, they are the Lunar Elites, it is their job to operate in the darkness. It...' She stood still like a statue with mouth slightly agape in realization. 'That's right, they are the Lunar Elites, they are Luna's guard. They are hoof picked by Luna, they serve directly under Luna,... Luna, Luna, Luna.' She gritted her teeth. 'I should've known.' She sighed. 'At least the rest of the elites are still garrisoned at the base.' She thought, 'No more than twenty-five or thirty can be with her now.'

    Celestia's pacing had her end up at a balcony in one of the palace's towers. A slight breeze brushed her majestic mane, she breathed in the air and let out a slow sigh.  'I'll carry out my new orders myself' She thought, she spread her wings and leaped off.

   Celestia pounded the ground of the Canterlot Army Base. Dust spread in a shockwave over the  surprised soldiers and guards. She took a regal pose and scanned the soldiers. Most were in half uniform performing mundane tasks. All were now bowing in reverence.

   "As you were!" She said, keeping a regal tone. She turned her head to see the base commander shuffling up to her straightening his crested helmet. It was apparent he wasn't prepared, but Celestia couldn't care less.

   He hurriedly bowed and said in a frightfully apologetic tone, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was not prepared for your arri-"

   "Dispense with the pleasantries, Commander." Celestia interrupted in a deadpan voice, she continued, "Assemble all of the Lunar Elites, I need to discuss something with them."

   "Highness?" The commander tilted his head in grimaced slightly in confusion.

   Celestia paused, a little confused herself and said, "Was I not clear, Commander?"

   "Your Majesty, you sent the elites out after Princess Luna last night." He said carefully.

   Celestia sighed while shutting her eyes, she was not in the mood for this. "Yes, I did. There are more than twenty Elites in Luna's guard. if you didn't know that, I am reminding you. Now assemble the 180 elites remaining here." Her tone grew angrier.

   The commander gulped and prepared for whatever might happen, "You sent all two hundred of them, Your Majesty. Last night they gathered their combat armor and marched off into the night."

    Celestia's eyes grew two times their normal size, "Wha-what? I gave no such order." Celestia said in almost a gasp. "You just let 200 soldiers march off with combat armor?

    The commander stammered, "The elite's captain said it was by your direct order to mobilize the Lunar Elites and-"

    "I don't want excuses!" Celestia shouted. "I want to know why you let 200 soldiers march off with combat armor without my written order or seeking my confirmation!"

Her Canterlot voice was seeping into her rant and she was towering over the commander. "How could you be so incompetent! I can't-!" She stopped herself, clamped her eyes shut, gritted her teeth and took a step back from the frightened officer. He was standing ramrod at attention like he always was but the fear was apparent in his eyes. She was shocked at what she had just done, she has never raised her voice in anger this much before. A small eternity of silence fell upon the base. All of the soldeirs were completely frozen in place, some in the middle of tasks. Their mouths hung open in shock and their eyes solely focused on the commander.

    She cleared her throat and said in her soothing voice, "My apologies, commander."

    He just nodded, still speechless.

    "These are my real orders." Celestia narrowed her eyes, "Mobilize all the soldiers you can, full combat. Garrison the watchtowers and double the gate guards. All guards are to wear full combat armor until my orders change. Load and station the artillery. This city is on lockdown until further notice."

    "Where's the rally point, Your Majesty?" The commander asked, still recovering.

    "The muster field, I'll decide where to position the soldiers when they've fully mobilized. I want all soldiers, the ones on patrols, leave, all of them." Celestia ordered, calm and collected.

    "It shall be done, Your Majesty. But it will take several hours."

    "Then now is the best time to begin." She deadpanned. At the completion of her order, she spread her wings and quickly ascended upwards.

    The commander gazed upward and watched her return to the palace, he turned his head toward all the soldiers who were still frozen in place from what just happened. Their mouths still widely agape.

    "What're you fillies lookin' at!? Move!" He shouted, all bravery returned to him by some unknown magic. All the soldiers quickly scampered about, tripping over each other in hurry.

    The new Fort Artemis was still abuzz with activity, the sounds of work echoed through the hill and the wind rushed through the fort.

    "Here is the plan." Princess Luna said to her lieutenants around the planning table, she turned to her captain, "You'll accompany me, along with the rest of the elites but leave a rear guard here to watch over the fort. We will march to Fort Wingstead and present our case. We will tell them the truth and ask for their help. If they refuse we will allow them to leave the fort and return to Canterlot. My sister is hopefully still in the dark about this. Although, it will only be a matter of time before she discovers us. Let us hope we are prepared when she does."

    "She may know now, for all we know she could know our location and is sending a force as we speak." Brave added.

    "I doubt it," Luna replied, "I cast an illusion spell. Our presence on this hill can't be seen from outside it. Anyone looking at us would only see an empty hill."

    "That magic must be powerful to cover an entire fort." Brave said, impressed.

    "Alicorn magic is more powerful than you think, Captain. Although it does still have its flaws. The spell only works if you're a certain distance away. A telescope from Canterlot wouldn't be able to see us, but a patrol passing right under us would."

    Brave nodded.

    "Mobilize the elites, captain, we move out within the hour." Luna ordered.

    "Yes, Your Majesty." Brave bowed slightly.

     "You're going to do what?!" Rarity shouted, Applejack had just told everyone about the plan.

     "You heard me just fine, Rarity." Applejack stated. "I know the risks, I don't need a lecture."

     Rarity was preparing for a lecture but reluctantly held her tongue.

     Applebloom looked up at her sister with watery eyes, "It's okay sugar cube," Applejack knelt down, "We'll be back soon. Equestria needs us and your brother and I have to do this." She managed a smile and brushed Applebloom's mane. "We'll be just fine."

     Applebloom just nodded an implied "Okay"

     Applejack looked up to face the rest of the group, "Y'all take care ya hear? We'll be back soon." Everypony then gave their hugging goodbyes.

     "Well, here it is." Bronze presented Applejack and Big Mac with the two suits of armor which laid on the floor in steel heaps. Bronze had brought them to a room in the lower levels which housed all of their weapons. Garbage bags of glass bottles and a few stray ones littered the dusty stone floor. Spears, both stolen and ones made by themselves, stood against the walls. Jugs of sesame oil were stacked up in the corners, A few barrels of hard cider accompanied them. A table at the end of the room held a few molotov cocktails and the ingredients for them. Nothing in the makeshift armory was organized. A few lit torches on the wall provided adequate light.

    "They were tough to get, make good use of them." Bronze said, then left the two to gear up.

     "This armor is awfully heavy." Applejack shrugged, clanking her armor. They managed to figure out how to put it on and were helping each other armor up.

     "I guess that's why they call it 'heavy' armor." Big Mac replied, tightening a strap with his teeth.

     "Very funny, big brother." Applejack said sarcastically, putting a piece of forehoof armor on. She slid it on, it was more comfortable than she thought it would be.

     Bronze poked his head in, "You guys ready?"

     "Almost, I just wish this armor wasn't so heavy." Applejack muttered.

     "Well it is made for earth ponies. Your kind are almost twice as strong as us unicorns. Earth pony soldiers are just massive chunks of steel, covered in blades. I wouldn't want to get close to one." Bronze said, taking a few steps into the armory.

     "Ya got a point." Applejack said, putting another piece of studded forehoof armor on.

     After a few more minutes, Applejack and Big Mac were the spitting images of Equestrian soldiers. They marched out of the castle and approached the steps. Applejack looked out and saw her little sister playing with her friends, Fluttershy was lounging under the shade of a tree talking with Rarity while also keeping an eye on the foals.

     Applejack sighed. 'Maybe I won't be comin' back.' She thought to herself. She shrugged it off and followed Bronze to the cart, where his three brothers awaited.

     They strapped the yokes on and trudged their way down the path leading to the main road. Bronze had already told them where to go, what to say, and everything they needed to know. They marched side by side, both bearing the burden of four kegs of powder and two hundred pounds of shells. They had a long trip ahead of them.

Chapter 16

      Twilight Sparkle roamed the palace halls in search of Princess Celestia. She had to know more about what was going on. Moments ago she saw hundreds of armored soldiers rally in the Canterlot base's muster field. The guards were no help, they knew nothing. None of the letters she had Spike send were being answered. She needed answers, and she had been wandering around the palace for the better part of an hour trying to find her mentor.

      She turned a corner and found her prize, but not in the state she'd rather have found her in. She saw Celestia storming down the hallway, "Twilight. Where have you been?" She asked in a hurried tone.

      Twilight responded, "Looking for you, Princess. What's going on?"

      Celestia shook her head, "It doesn't matter, we need to talk."  Apparent that she didn't hear a word that Twilight said. She continued walking, "Come with me."

      "Where are we going?" Twilight asked, trying to keep up with Celestia's long strides.

      "You'll see." Celestia replied, not so much as turning her head.

      "Umm, alright." Twilight was confused, "What did we need to talk about? Why are there soldiers gathering at the base?"

      "All in good time, Twilight." Celestia and Twilight arrived at the east wing of the castle, a rarely visited portion. They walked  to the end of one hallway to a set of large, ancient doors. The doors were wood coated with a layer of iron and showed signs of decay. The only means of opening them were two large, iron rings. Twilight slightly grimaced from the smell of rust.

      Celestia pulled on both rings with her magic and slowly pulled open the two ton doors with a gravely creak. Celestia motioned Twilight in with a nod and creaked the doors closed again.

      Twilight was awestruck when she stepped hoof into the room. It was much larger than she thought. The walls were adorned with banners and sculpted brass trim. Stain glass artworks depicting ancient battles and victories of Equestrian history lined the walls on both sides. At the far side of the room Twilight could see a massive stain glass window: the sun rising. She had never seen one that big before, she stared in awe at the detail of the artwork. The reds, oranges and yellows blended beautifully to create the very essence of the dawn. Twilight took a deep breath and nearly coughed because of the dust. The dust covered everything, the room was clearly old and had never been visited in a very long time.

      Twilight looked up at Celestia who was also taking in the scenery. Celestia spoke before Twilight could, "Do you know where we are, Twilight?"

      Twilight knew exactly where they were, she studied everything about the the castle and knew every nook and cranny of it. "The Sanctum of the Rising Sun."

      "Correct." Celestia began walking forward, her hooves making hushed clops on the decaying carpet, "What is that?" She shot a hoof forward to the far side of the sanctum.

      "Uuh," Twilight looked ahead where she saw the massive artwork and saw something she didn't notice before. It was a massive stone altar a few feet high with steps leading up. The artwork only served as a background to the centerpiece of the altar. Twilight saw what the entire room was dedicated too: a suit of armor. Twilight didn't have an answer, she knew nothing about the armor.

      Celestia took Twilight's silence for an answer. She turned around to face her and said, "It is the armor of the Forerunner of the Dawn."

      Twilight's eyes widened slightly, "The Forerunner?"

     Celestia walked up the steps and motioned Twilight forward, "Throughout our history, there have been Forerunners. In times of extreme crisis and desperation I have called upon a Forerunner, to spread light and peace throughout the kingdom. Equestria has suffered many wounds throughout time, from foreign invaders, inner turmoil, plague, and chaos." She gazed at the stain glass windows of each event. Her eyes told that she went through every single one of these tragedies.

     Twilight was even further awestruck, "I-I have never heard of these Forerunners." She said in wonder as she made her way up the steps.

     "The exploits of the Forerunners are rarely made public, for the road of the Forerunner is a lonely one, it requires sacrifice for what it bestows." Celestia solemnly replied.

     Twilight closely examined the armor, it was old and dusty, but should no signs of rust or decay. It was beautifully crafted steel, it was coated with brass and gold. The detail was like none Twilight had seen before. The helmet caught her eye the most because a golden star was emblazoned on the front head piece which bore a small resemblance to her cutie mark. Twilight then noticed that the armor could accommodate both wings and a horn.

     "The Forerunner's were ascended alicorns." Celestia said, knowing Twilight's question before she asked it. Twilight shot a quizzical look up at her. "You did not think you and Cadence were the only ones? Did you?"

    "I guess I never thought about it."Twilight responded.

    "The Forerunner was rarely called upon, only a small few have ascended to be alicorns. The Forerunner hasn't been called upon in over a century." Celestia explained.

    "Why are you showing me this?" Twilight asked.

    "Because the recent events have shown me that I may have to call upon the Forerunner once more, and that Forerunner is you." Celestia said.

    "I would be honored." Twilight said with a look of steel in her face.

    "These are desperate times, Twilight. I am showing you this so that I may know that I can trust you. Too many good ponies have betrayed me. Can I trust you to return light to Equestria?" Celestia asked.

    "I would never betray you, Princess." Twilight said with a voice that could bend a metal pipe, "You have my undying loyalty."

    "That's what I needed to hear." Celestia said with a small smile.

    "This thing is gettin' heavier with each step." Applejack panted. She and Big Mac have been hauling the cart for half a day to Fort Wingstead, they still had another half to go. "I need to stop." Applejack gasped, halting the progress of the wagon. She took a few deep breaths, "I'm sweatin' like a pig in this armor." she said craning her head trying to get some kind of air flow down her neck to cool off. Her blonde mane was so disheveled, Rarity would've passed out, same with Big Mac's. They haven't bathed in a few days and their noses could tell.

    Big Mac was just as hot and tired as Applejack, but he still didn't like the breaking of his rhythm when he worked. He snorted through his nose and pawed at the ground a few times. He liked the feeling of his yoke on again, he never really felt comfortable without it. He also liked the feeling of his armor, he felt less vulnerable with it on, he hated feeling vulnerable.

    "Ya want some water?" Applejack glanced at her brother. She felt this was the perfect time for a break.

    "Eeyup." Mac replied in a dry voice while nodding.

    "Alright, help me get this harness off." Applejack started fumbling with straps tethering her to the wagon. Mac lent a hoof and soon Applejack was free and she made her way around to the side of the wagon where a jug of water resided. She grasped it with her hoof and took a deep swig. The water was warmed by the sun but it didn't matter to her. She took a few more gulps then brought the jug around to her brother who was still hooked up to the wagon. His face held little emotion but his actions said otherwise, he snatched the jug and took several hurried gulps before taking a breath.

     "Don't drink it all." Applejack chuckled. We only have two o' these to last the trip."

     Mac just wiped his mouth dry with his forehoof and handed the jug back with a thankful nod.

     Applejack took the jug and said, "I'm gonna grab an apple or two from the back, you want one?"

     Mac nodded.

     Applejack smiled and went back to the wagon, she put the jug back on it's hook and went behind the wagon to retrieve her produce. She took a quick glance at the payload and suddenly remembered what she was doing. She sighed and stared at the barrels of explosive powder. 'Is this right?' She thought, she knew that this was going to kill others. She recalled the first time she killed another in defense of Fluttershy, it made her a little sick. Then she thought of what the soldiers did to her home and family. She knew what they were capable of. 'I can't let what happened to me happen to anypony else.' she thought to herself, still staring at the ordinance.

    A short "Hey." broke Applejack's concentration, she snapped out of her stupor and looked over at Big Mac who was leaning around to see what was taking so long. "Ya alright?" Mac asked.

    "Uh, yeah. I'm fine." Applejack said shaking her head and returning to her previous objective. She saw the bag of apples in the very back next to their discarded helmets, it was far too hot to wear them in the late summer weather. The sack was thrown in and it was resting next to a crate of shells with the barrels of powder behind it. She reached in with her hoof. She could barely reach across the old, splintery wood and she grunted as she stretched as far as she could. She at last took hold of the bag of juicy apples with her hoof. With a quick yank, Applejack  pulled the sack out of the wagon, she sighed in relief when she finally had the apples in her hoof and a snapping and whipping noise attacked her ear. She looked back at the wagon and heard a faint fizzling noise. Her eyes shot forward and her mind raced, she suddenly remembered Bronze telling her how to set the explosives off. She darted her eyes back to the barrels of powder. "Uh-oh."

     Big Mac heard Applejack's words and craned his head around to see what was going on.

     Applejack's face filled with panic and Mac's eyes widened in confusion. "I-I uh I think I just set it off!" She stammered and galloped to Mac's side and shouted, "Run!"

     Mac then gasped and reared up on his hind legs and tried to take off, he grunted in surprise when he lurched backwards by the harness still tethering him to the cart. "AJ!"

     Applejack stopped mid gallop a few yards away at the sudden realization that Mac was still hooked up. She spun around on the dirt and sprinted back, her armor clanked with each hoofstep.

     It took no more than a second before Applejack was frantically trying to get her brother out of the death trap that chained him to the cart. Big Mac was trying his best too stay calm and get out but his composure was failing fast.

     Applejack quickly fumbled with the straps but her panic didn't allow her to undo them fast enough, and Big Mac was starting to panic and was trying to break the bonds by pulling as hard as he could. It wasn't working.

     Applejack frantically looked down at her bladed hooves then reared back and, with a yell, sliced clean through the straps, she hopped to the other side and did the same. Once Big Mac was freed they sprinted for their lives. The loudest noise they ever hear or felt propelled them head over hooves across the dirt road. The cannon shells provided excellent shrapnel as did the cheap, splintery wood of the wagon.  A white inferno engulfed the cart and sent the shrapnel rocketing in all directions in a fiery display.

     Many pieces of debris bounced off their armor as they were blasted away. They hit the dirt with sickening crunches. Applejack and Big Mac both blacked out.

     The final battlements of Fort Artemis were being put in place, the wood from the wagons and crates provided adequate cover and building materials. Traps made by pyro, and cryomages, were set in choke points up the hill. Any enemy soldier charging up would get a face full of fire or have their face frozen off. The magical cloak kept their position hidden for the time being.

     Princess Luna was wearing her armor, it had been so long since she had felt the cold metal. She liked it. Her helmet rested on the planning table in front of her. The wind could still be heard whipping against the walls of the tent. The afternoon sun was beating down upon the camp.

     "We'll move under cover of darkness. We should arrive at the fort in the morning." Princess Luna was planning the trip to Fort Wingstead for support. "We'll need a sizable force in case the situation does turn hostile."

     "We can send 150 elites and leave 50 to keep the fort secure." Brave Hooves suggested.

     "That sounds acceptable. We'll outnumber the fort and still be able to defend this fort if an attack does come." Luna agreed. "I'll lead the outgoing force, you should accompany me, Captain."

     "Of course, Princess." Brave nodded.

     "Lieutenant." Luna looked across the planning table with the same old map spread across it, "You'll be in charge of the fort garrison while we're absent."

     The lieutenant nodded and said with young voice, "Yes, Princess."

     "Choose your troops, Captain. Tell them to rest up and be fully equipped and ready to mobilize when the sun has left the sky." Luna ordered.

     When the moon rose in the east, the Lunar Elites marched south. The silent warriors were nearly invisible in their journey to Fort Wingstead. Luna led the column, her armor seemed to drip darkness onto the path she was walking. The night was clearly controlled by her.

"Hey." Applejack heard a voice through a fog. She slurred and tried to ask what happened and where she was. "Hey! You alright?" She heard the same voice, her vision began to clear and light made it's way through her eyelids. She coughed and lifted her aching head and tried to see who was speaking. "What happened, soldier?" She distinctively heard a male voice, but it wasn't Mac's. No, it wasn't as deep.

     "Uuh." Was all Applejack could say. Consciousness  was returning and she was somewhat awake now. she licked her lips and noticed that most of her face was wet, but she didn't taste water. The subtle, metallic taste of blood made itself known on her tongue. She grimaced from the taste and her entire face hurt from the gesture.

     "Whoa, whoa. Take it easy, you're gonna be fine. Hey, doc! Hurry it up!" The same voice said in a assuring tone.

     "One sec!" another male voice shot out. "I'm still patchin' up the other one, he doesn't seem to be awake yet."

     Applejack was now fully conscious but still a little bewildered. She slowly looked up to see the helmeted head of an Equestrian soldier silhouetted against the moon. 'Oh no.'