A Major Threat

by DuhBankz

Rating: everyone
Tags: Trixie, Braeburn, Spike, Adventure, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 4740

Chaos is raining on Equestria and Twilight Sparkle has been asked to stop it. How will this unfold?

Recent reports from the very edges of Equestria has told of absolute chaos approaching from the south. Ponyville is caught in the middle of the trouble and Twilight Sparkle is requested by Celestia herself to stop it before it goes out of hand.

Published 2012-03-24 13:54:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-04-07 05:11:21 UTC

Chapter One

Have you ever wondered deep into the forest? The dense greenery towering over you keeping the surroundings dark and ominous. The sounds of all of the creatures staring at you wondering why you are trespassing in their homes. When suddenly you hear an unidentifiable screech in the distance and what sounds like twigs snapping under the hooves of a filly running. You approach the direction in which you heard the sound from hoping not to see the worst. You see a flash of yellow and red zoom by your line of sight and another screech is let out much louder than before. You hear booming sounds starting very quietly but approaching and getting louder and louder and louder until you are facing something that towers over the trees in the forest you never imagined seeing the top of. You take off your hat and look down to your hooves as a single tear rolls down your cheek and you whisper to yourself goodbye.

It was a normal day in Ponyville, the cider sales were booming keeping Sweet Apple Acres in business. "Why this is the best cider season we've ever had Big Mac." Applejack said excitedly.
"Eeyup." Big Macintosh replied.
The cider season had made the Apple family nearly triple the profits it has ever made them since they first started the business. As the last drop of the last barrel of the season shot into the mug of the last lucky pony there the Apple's felt more successful than they had ever before. "Congratulations on this great cider season Applejack!" Pinkie Pie said.
"Why thanks Pinkie, you sure were a good customer like always. We made you nearly twenty cups!" Applejack said in reply.
"Actually it was twenty-six, and I've still got much more at home!"
"Why Pinkie if I'm not mistaken, you're definitely our best customer!"
"Eeyup." Big Macintosh said joining the conversation.
"Oh, you two are too nice! Do you need any help getting all of this stuff back to Sweet Apple Acres?" Pinkie Pie asked generously.
"I think we've got it from here Pinkie but thanks for offering, that's mighty kind of you."
"Okay, then I think I'm going back to Sugar Cube Corner. The Cake's might need me!"
"See you later then Pi-"
Pinkie Pie started hopping hurriedly home before Applejack even had time to reply.

The cider season was wrapped up and a party was help at Sugar Cube Corner as a congratulations to the most successful season of all time. Ponies from all across Equestria were showing up, Pinkie Pie welcoming them in one by one. Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and Rarity were all sat at a table together talking about the recent news in Ponyville. "Did you hear that an actual living breathing Ursa Major was spotted in a forest between here and Appleoosa?" Twilight asked her friends with a tone of both shock and fear.
"I hope that barbaric creature stays far away from here, I don't want Ponyville to be in danger like it has been ever again!" Rarity replied while checking her hooves for dirt.
"Yeah it better not come anywhere near here! It'd be putting itself in great danger coming anywhere near Rainbow Dash!." Rainbow Dash said heroically.
"Rainbow you're in way over your head, you would be hiding under Ponyville if that thing came anywhere near here." Twilight said laughing at Rainbow's false bravery.
"You don't know that." Rainbow replied in annoyed tone.
"Oh Rainbow don't try to fool me and Twilight, we know how yo-"
"Twilight! Twilight Sparkle are you here?!" Spike interruptedly yelled.
"Yes, of course I'm here Spike. What's wrong?" Twilight replied curiously.
"Princess Celestia sent this letter to you and it reads." Spike cleared his throat and began to read out the letter "Dear Twilight Sparkle, It has come to my attention that the people of Equestria have spotted an Ursa Major. Due to your great duty of saving Ponyville from the previous Ursa Minor attack I'm am kindly asking for you to have the responsibility of keeping Equestria safe from this possible threat. Please be careful Twilight Sparkle. Your faithful mentor and Princess, Celestia."
Twilight was stunned by the assignment she had just received from Celestia herself and nearly fainted. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie had all three came to her to help her calm down but it was of no use. Twilight Sparkle walked home with her head hung in shame because she knew she couldn't do what the Princess had requested.

"Twilight, come out of there please, we all miss you and want to help you through this as well as we can." Fluttershy said in a caring tone.
"No Fluttershy, I can't face this world anymore." Twilight replied.
Her five friends continued to try to get her to come outside but it was just wasted time. They were going to have to wait for her to come out in her own time. "The party must go on!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she ran to Sugar Cube Corner.
After the first attempt of the party being crashed by Spike's bad timing to give Twilight the bad news it was back on. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity were all at the same table they had reserved the day before. They were trying to keep off the topic of the approaching Ursa Major but their fears continued stayed the same. The party was interrupted by the door being slammed open emitting a sound louder than a Sonic Rainboom. A pony wearing a brown hat with orange mane walked into Sugar Cube Corner with a look of fear greater than even Twilight's upon receiving Celestia's request. "Braeburn, is that you?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah it's me cousin," Braeburn walked to the table Applejack and her friends were sat at. "Cousin, it's terrible what happened up there in Appleoosa, the whole orchard was swept away and all of the town's stores and homes are up in flames. I'm one of the only ponies that made it out alive."
"What happened?!" Applejack asked with an expression of absolute shock.
"That Ursa Major finally found us."
"I don't know what to say Braeburn, you can stay with us at Sweet Apple Acres for now."
"Thank you cousin, that's mighty nice of you to lend me your home." Braeburn tipped his hat to Applejack and headed out of Sugar Cube Corner.

Chaos had reached Equestria, a threat even worse than Discord himself was slowly approaching the peaceful town of Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle was still locked away in her home and hope was slowly fading as the Ursa Major drew closer and closer. Ponies from all around were spending as much time as possible with their closest friends and families making the best of what could be their last days alive. Even hopes were low in Canterlot, Celestia had called off all guard patrols and declared Equestria a lost cause. At this point nobody had any hope of survival, Celestia continued to send letters to Twilight asking her with great kindness to at least try to stop the Ursa but she had never replied. Canterlot was a ghost town, no events were planned and no ponies were walking its normally crowded streets. The situation had become seemingly worse as time passed and more reports came to Celestia, the destruction drawing closer and closer to the beloved capital of Equestria. She almost found it useless to raise the sun anymore as the great Armageddon slowly approached.

After nearly three months of being stowed away in her library, Twilight Sparkle emerged to the emptiness that Ponyville had become. As she looked around she saw trash being carried through the streets of her town. The fillies that normally played in the streets had ceased to exist. The ponies that crowded the stalls in the market had not shown up and it seemed it had been that way for weeks. Nobody happily welcomed her from her long absence. She felt like the world had fallen apart in the time she was gone, and she was right. In the three months she was locked up in her home Equestria had been declared lost by Celestia herself and everyone had given up hope completely. Twilight held back tears as she looked up to the clouded sky and yelled "I will stop that Ursa Major if it kills me!"
Her voice echoed through the ghost town and a few windows opened revealing cheering ponies encouraging Twilight for the great quest she had finally accepted after three long months of hiding from her destiny. Tears of joy began to block her view of the hundreds of ponies that had came out of their homes for the first time in a long time to cheer her on. She had no idea how much they depended and believed in her. Even her closest friends had come out to cheer her on. "Spike, take a letter." She said with great joy in her voice. "Dear Princess Celestia, after long thought and denial to the task at hand I have finally chosen to accept. Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle."
Spike rolled up the scroll and burned it with green flames delivering it to Princess Celestia. Twilight knew there was no turning back now. She had to stop the Ursa Major. Even if it kills her.

Chapter 2

The day had finally come, the day Twilight Sparkle would venture forth to take down the dreaded Ursa Major that was slowly approaching Ponyville. Hopes were returning to the citizens of Equestria and people were beginning to depend on Twilight more than she had in mind. Parades marched through the streets of Canterlot, purple flags with her cutie mark on them had been raised and people gossiped about her great magical powers she would use to stop the destructive Ursa. "Goodbye my friends, I may never see you again but I promise that you won't have to worry at all about the Ursa hurting any of you." Twilight said with gratitude.

"Twilight, it sure means a lot to all of us here in Ponyville. You risking your life to save us and all." Fluttershy said with kindness in her tone.

"Yeah Twi! I don't know any pony braver than you!" Applejack said joining the conversation.

"Thanks guys, but i really must be going. I cant just stand here and do nothing after all." Twilight replied.

"Good luck Twilight Sparkle!" The citizens of Ponyville all said with great encouragement.

With that, Twilight began her journey to the place that was last reported to see the Ursa, Hoofington. "Hey, um Twilight I think somepony's following us." Spike said with fear.

"What?!" Twlight was reading a book about ancient times before Equestria before Spike interrupted. "Why do you think that?."

"Look." Spike pointed to what appeared to be a dark blue pony in the dark. But it was too dark and foggy to tell.

"Don't worry Spike, I'm sure it's nothing."

The two continued on the road to the Everfree Forest where Twilight stopped and looked around. "I can't see anything through all of this fog Spike." Twilight said.

"Maybe you can cast a spell to clear some of it up?"

"Great idea!"

Twilight's horn began to glow and she pointed it towards the foggy Everfree Forest and shot a beam of light into it immediately clearing the fog all around them. They continued their journey through the mysterious forest until Spike suspected someone was following them again. "Spike! Nobody is following us! Please, if you're going to do this the whole time just go home. I'm stressed out enough already."

"I'm sorry Twilight, I just keep seeing something moving behin-" Spike was interrupted by a deafening screech that echoed through the whole forest.

The screech was so loud it cause leaves to fall off of trees all around Twilight and Spike. So many leaves had begun to fall that they could no longer see their surroundings.

It was nearly five long minutes before the leaves cleared up and Twilight could make out what was around her. But Spike was nowhere to be found. "Spike? Spike?! SPIKE?!!" Twilight continued searching for her faithful companion but to no avail.

She continued her quest all alone, every once in a while yelling for Spike. But he never turned up. After about an hour of walking Twilight finally escaped the dark and gloomy forest harmless but alone. As she followed the path to Hoofington she would look behind herself every once in a while in hopes to see Spike or what he had been seeing following them. The sun was out and Twilight was almost to the glorious town that the Ursa was spotted nearest to. As she walked she tried to imagine what the town would be like, would the place be in ruins, with buildings torn apart and fires lighting up the streets? Would the great beast just be arriving and it's shadow being cast over the great city as hundreds of ponies look to it in great fear and shocking waiting to have all their life's hard work be taken from them in an instant? Twilight hoped to find the Ursa far away from Hoofington, and the towns great people be safe. As she journeyed onward to the Ursa Twilight was buried in a book about ancient times before Equestria. At the moment she was reading about the very first Ursa Major attack on the poor citizens of a town called Pegaton. The city was attacked on the noon of their annually celebrated Pegasus races. The races were held during a great thunder storm on a circular track. Due to the conditions in the town the speed from the Pegasi racing would cause the audience and racetrack to be completely protected from the rain. When the attack happened the races had just begun right after the Duke was informed by the Pegaton City Guard that an Ursa Major was spotted.

The Duke decided to keep the sighting a secret and allow the race to go on. The Ursa was quickly approaching the city and the townspeople were getting suspicious of the noises. The races were put on hold when a white pegasus with red and blue mane ran into the arena and screamed with great horror the news. The Ursa Major had made it's way to the front gates of the town and the Duke ordered his guard to defend his city with all of their might. The pegasi shot lightning bolts at the Ursa but they were useless as it tore down the gates to the city and began to reign havoc. Citizen's homes were destroyed and the guards were pushed to their last line of defense. The last line of defense was simply an unpenetrable wall of lightning charged clouds around the racetrack. However without any struggle the Ursa tore down the wall of clouds and destroyed the entire racetrack leaving nothing behind but the flat land that would someday become part of Equestria.

Twilight was shocked to read about what happened to one very well protected town when an Ursa Major attacked and could only imagine what the beast could do to the mildly unprotected town of Ponyville. She was even more determined to stop the beast now and had finally arrived in Hoofington. Only to see what she feared the most.

Feedback will be greatly appreciated :)

Chapter 3

"This can't be happening," Twilight mumbled to herself as she looked at the grim ruins that was once Hoofington.
She ran towards the main gates of the town with an expression of pure determination. Dust and pebbles flew behind Twilight as she ran towards Hoofington at a speed that not even Rainbow Dash could compare to. But just as she reached the gates she heard a distant voice behind her. "Twilight! Don't go any closer! This is a warning!" The mysterious voice shouted at her.
"Who's there?! I mean it come out!" Twilight yelled back with anger in her voice.
But nobody replied to her calls, "I got to stay focused.." Twilight mumbled to herself .

The gates of Hoofington were made up of great bars of steel welded together by the breath of a phoenix.At the top of the gates where they meet there is an exquisitely styled "H" made of pure gold. The middle of the gates were sealed by a long beam that is studded with different jewels. In this situation the gates were buried in refuse and dirt with the many beautiful jewels strewn around the entrance to the town. As Twilight entered the crumbled walls of Hoofington she saw ponies strewn around the deserted streets just as the jewels had been. The sight was unbearable, she wanted to just close her eyes and erase the images that she had just perceived but it was impossible. Market stalls had been buried in what used to be homes, and the schoolhouse which was probably crowded with fillies anxious to learn had been crushed by a section of the wall.

"Twilight Sparkle?" Someone said.
Twilight darted towards the familiar voice faster than you could say Celestia. "Trixie?! Could it really be you?" Twilight said in the direction she heard the voice from.
There was no immediate reply to Twilight's question but after about 3 minutes a blinding light blue beam of light shot into the sky through all the dark clouds of smoke as the familiar voice announced with joy, "The great and powerful!"
As the smoke cleared up a light blue unicorn laying on the cobblestone pavement slowly appeared across the street from Twilight. "Trixie are you okay?" Twilight asked.
"The great and powerful Trixie is always in perfect condition!" Trixie replied.
"You really don't look to good Trixie."
"I'll be honest Twilight, I'm not at my best." Trixie stood up. "If you didn't already know, an Ursa Major attacked this once beautiful town."
"That's what I came to try and stop, but it looks like I was too late."
"You? You were sent to stop the Ursa Major?" Trixie covered her mouth to hold in a laugh.
"Yeah, I was sent to stop it. Only because of how well I was when the Ursa Minor attacked Ponyville, you weren't much of a help back there were you?"
"Twilight, you don't understand. The great and powerful Trixie can vanquish even the toughest of creatures!"
"Trixie don't even try that on me again."
The two unicorns were examining the damage done to Hoofington as they argued about Trixie's false power. Until they both came to a stop at what appeared to be a ruined home in the middle of the town. The home looked as if it was built for royalty but in the end it just toppled over as easy as the rest. A small wooden sign was stuck into the ground nearby and it read "Town Hall." They stood there lost in their thoughts. Twilight was imagining the Ursa reaching Canterlot and with a single swipe at the Royal Palace, it would be destroyed and all of Canterlot would slide down the mountain. "Um, Twilight." Trixie said, "I think the great and powerful Trixie needs some rest."
"I've been walking for days! May I go with you?" Twilight replied.
"Yes, just don't touch anything."
The two unicorns went behind one of one of the only remaining buildings to where Trixie's caravan was parked. "I wonder how this building is still standing?" Twilight asked curiously, "It looks less stable than the front gates."
"I used magic to hold it in place when the Ursa attacked." Trixie said answering Twilight's suspicions.
When the two mares entered the caravan it appeared phenomenally bigger on the inside. Twilight was amazed but was too tired to question it. "So where can I sleep?"
Trixie pointed down a hallway where a bright luminescent sign hung saying "GUEST QUARTERS." Twilight dragged her way to a guest room marked number 17. Trixie stayed in the main foyer of the mansion like caravan and began to meditate.

Twilight woke up in a daze, she had recessive memory of the previous night's events. She looked around only seeing the empty streets of Hoofington. The smoke had lifted since the day before and the sun's rays lit up the destroyed town. Twilight's amnesia started to clear up and she had remembered sleeping in Trixie's caravan. But for some reason it was nowhere to be found. She remembered the caravan was behind the only home left standing but now the home had toppled as easy as a house of cards. "Trixie?" Twilight shouted with fear in her voice. "Trixie are you still here?"
"Twilight?" Another familiar voice said in excitement. "Twilight is it really you?!"
Twilight looked around the corner of the rubble and saw someone that she couldn't be happier to see, it was Spike. "Spike! I can't believe it's you!" Twilight said with shock.
"I was teleported away from Everfree and I knew you were headed here! So I just followed the signs to Hoofington." Spike replied.
"Where were you teleported to Spike? Who did it?!"
Spike had started to fade and a stars of the night sky were forming around him. Twilight looked up to see none other than the Ursa Major towering over Hoofington. It swung its gigantic claws into Twilight throwing her into a segment of Hoofington's ruined wall. Twilight looked up at the Ursa and felt smaller than a pea. But just as she was prepared to be struck with the final blow, the Ursa shrunk to the size of an apple. She was surprised to say the least and just as she stepped on the apple sized beast, she woke up in Trixie's guest room just as she had went to sleep and let out a deafening screech.

"Are you okay Twi?" Trixie asked.
"Yeah, it was just a bad dream." Twilight replied.
"Well Celestia's sun has just rose so how bout we go for a walk?"
"Sounds good."
With that the two unicorns exited the enchanting caravan and into the ruins of Hoofington. As they walked out of the back gates of the town they looked up and saw what looked like a dark blue pony watching over the town from a small hill. "Hey! That's the pony that's been following me around everywhere!" Twilight shouted.
Twilight and Trixie dashed towards the dark blue pony but it disappeared in nearly a split second. Once they reached the top of the hill, it was nowhere to be found. The two unicorns looked all around the hill to find the pony but just as they looked towards the Whitetail Wood they saw a cloud of smoke floating above a small settlement to the west. As their eyes grew staring at the dark cloud they saw a beast walking slowly towards the Whitetail Wood. It was indeed the real world this time and it was indeed the great mythical Ursa Major.

I decided to not end it here. Tell me if you want more or to end it with the next chapter. Thanks :)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The Ursa was tedious, it's movements were slow yet large. It had lost a lot of energy over the recent attacks, although it seemed like the beast could sweep away the cities with no effort. But it appeared that the people of the distant settlement were retaliating, as the Ursa brought in an attack it's arm would make a sharp motion in the opposite direction. "Trixie, what town could that be?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "You do travel, right?"
"I've never went in that direction, but I believe it is Dodge Junction." Trixie replied.
Twilight remembered her friend Applejack staying in Dodge Junction after a rodeo in Canterlot. They were famous for their rich cherry production. If the Ursa Major destroyed Dodge Junction then it would surely affect Equestria's economy. As the two unicorns continued to observe the Ursa's movements rain began to pour on Equestria. The raindrops pelted the back gates of Hoofington like thousands of tiny hammers, the obnoxious sounds began to annoy Trixie and she declared, "Twi, I think it's time we face our fears. I know you were given the responsibility to take on the Ursa yourself, but if you would accept the assistance of the great and powerful Trixie, I would be honored to help you in saving Equestria."
"Then let's do this Tri- Great and Powerful Trixie." Twilight said with a smile on her face.

The duo rushed towards Dodge Junction at speeds faster than the rain could fall onto them, but they were interrupted by a distant shout, "WAIT!"
Trixie and Twilight Sparkle turned to see none other than Princess Luna walking towards them. "TWILIGHT SPARK- I mean Twilight Sparkle, we need to have a word with you." Luna said.
"What is it Princess?" Twilight asked as Trixie backed up to not be in the way.
"You must face the Ursa Major alone, Twilight." Luna demanded in a spine chilling voice that echoed slightly.
"Why do I have to face it alone?" Twilight asked.
"The Ursa Major is a relentless force, I've found a spell that takes absolute concentration to successfully cast. I'm afraid if Trixie joins you, you will not have the ability to cast it."
"What does the spell do?"
"I read up on ancient times when the first Ursa Majors roamed Equestria, I found this book in the Everfree forest." Luna used magic to pull a book out of her travel bag.
"Hey! That's my book! I lost it back in Everfree, may I have it back?"
Luna gave the book to Twilight and whispered how to cast the spell into her ear. "You can take Trixie if you want, but you have been warned." Luna said as she backed away from Twilight Sparkle.
"I think me and Trixie can handle this Luna. Thanks for your help." Twilight said giving Luna a look of approval.

Trixie nodded at Twilight Sparkle and the two began their trip to Dodge Junction. The rain had made an absolute mess out of Twilight's mane, Rarity would destroy her if she saw her like this. As the downpour continued the two unicorns noticed the Ursa being distracted by something other than Dodge Junction. It was looking in the direction of Ponyville and it let out a wicked roar as it swiped at the sky in front of it. "What's it doing?" Trixie asked.
"I don't know, too hard to tell from here." Twilight replied.
The Ursa continued swiping at the sky until whatever had it preoccupied had left. The duo was getting closer and closer to the town and started to be able to hear every noise the Ursa made, it's monstrous steps, it's fearsome roars, and its great arms swiping at the ground. They could also see that Dodge Junction had barely been hurt, the smoke was rising from the ground where the citizens had set traps for the Ursa to step on. This must've been why it kept stepping away every once in a while. Twilight was sure the ponies knew it was hopeless, and that they were probably just preserving time.

Finally the two mares saw the rotting wooden sign that read "DODGE JUNCTION, 1 HOOF MILE AWAY." The sign looked like it had been through a lot, the corners were busted off and it appeared that some old text on the sign had been covered by paint, probably about what they are famous for. At this point Twilight could hear the screams of the ponies in Dodge as the Ursa slowly but ruthlessly attacked their small city. They were getting so close to the Ursa they thought it knew they were coming, and in fact it did. The Ursa stopped looking at the small town and with glanced towards the two unicorns approaching the town. After it fully noticed them it had an expression of pure fear on its face which soon turned to anger. The Ursa threw down what appeared to be a tree and stomped its way towards Twilight and Trixie. The Ursa's body stretched above the clouds hanging low enough to hide its head in the clouds. Celestia's sun was beginning to set and the battle of a century was about to begin.

Short chapter to build anticipation. Please rate thumbs up if you like and leave some feedback. :)