Chapter One
Celestia's sun was high in the sky. Twilight watched fillies and colts play on the streets of Manehatten, no doubt enjoying their summer break. Twilight wondered how they could run around outside without drinking as much water as she did waiting inside. She drank her fifth glass of water as she waited for the meeting to begin. Or maybe it’s just that I’m nervous. This is the first time Celestia is having me do this on my own.
Twilight started running through her list one more time. Flashcards, check. Crowd, check.
I’ll start by congratulating the sanitation department for their fine work. Their streets are one of the cleanest in all of Equestria after all. Then I’ll move on to the new tax and budget plan. Which may or may not go well.
The sound of an airship ran through city hall, shaking the windows. Twilight and many other ponies look out the windows. A large group of Wonderbolts flew by, followed by a Royal Guard Airship.
What in the name of Celestia is going on. The doors burst open, causing Twilight and the other ponies in the room to turn to the doors. They found a member of the royal guard running up to Twilight.
"Your majesty, you must come quickly!" he shouted, winded.
"Why? What is going on?" Twilight gave him a worried look.
"No time. But I have to get you to safety."
Twilight was about to say something when she heard a loud explosion, then the sound of a building collapsing followed by the sound of screaming, and more explosions. She looked out to the windows again to find an airship burning, and falling straight toward them.
"Everypony get away from the windows!" Twilight yelled.
She threw up a magic shield, hoping it would take the brunt of the impact. The airship hit the shield, enveloping it in flames and smoke. Twilight’s horn started to spark and she felt pain shoot through her head. The longer the shield stayed, the more painful it became for her to maintain it.
Come on, a little longer, she thought as she started to sweat. She looked around the room to find most of the ponies were either cowering or demanding to know what is going on.One was even hiding behind her and making it difficult to focus.
”Who in the name of Celestia is attacking us?” one said.
”Why aren't you here to get us all to safety?” another yelled.
Looking at the guard,Twilight asked, “What is going on?”
“Equestria is under attack. We didn’t even see them coming. It was like they knew where the holes in our defences were,” he said.
A powerful gust of wind blew the flames and smoke away. Twilight could make out a huge fleet of airships. She didn't recognize the flag they flew. The flag symbol was a golden grail with some kind of tree behind it. One of the black airships moved over head and blotted out the sun. Twilight felt her fear growing as it loomed over them like a harbinger of death.
Twilight saw beams of magic focused through crystal along the sides of the airship looming over head. The beams hit a building, tearing it to pieces in seconds.
She found that one was lining up its cannons to fire straight at them. Twilight hoped she could hold her shield up against something that powerful but knew that it would be better not to take the risk.
"Everypony get to the doors, and hurry!" Twilight said, trying to make her way to the doors.
The airship unleash a power volley, it hit Twilight’s shield. Her nose started to bleed, and she felt herself ready to collapse. But knew that these ponies were counting on her, they needed her to save them. She knew that she couldn’t take another hit. But before she could finish, she heard the building start to collapse. "Everypony! Run!"
Twilight knew she had to use what was left of her strength to hold the building together long enough for everypony to get out safely.
She let down the shield and start to hold the building together. "Hurry, I can't hold this forever!" Twilight shouted, as scared ponies run past her. She watched the guard trying to keep them from trampling one another.
She watched as the last pony made it out as the airship unleashed another volley. She felt the guard push her out the door. She hit the ground hard. Then felt a surge of pain as a part of the building fall on one of her wings. Then felt her bones break as her back legs were crushed.
After a few more seconds she found herself buried alive. She was too weak to teleport, and was starting to feel light-headed. But she knew she had to stay awake.
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Violet Barding, a white unicorn with violet eyes and a cutie mark of three circles, stood on the deck of an airship. The sun was high in the sky and she felt herself sweating like a dog. She much preferred colder weather, but knew that most would be out enjoying this nice day, like her daughter who loved swimming in the warm summer sun.
She looked to the city that they would be attacking in a few minutes. It was a shame that this nice day would see the fires of war. Never had her crown felt this heavy. She looked to her siblings and found they seemed pleased that their plan had passed the senate and the war council.
She saw a few enemy airships heading their way. They were smaller, like they were made for teleporting rather than war. She would be willing to bet that her flagship, the Phoenix's Wrath, would be more than able to destroy this most of this enemy fleet on its own.
"Big sis, would you like to give the order?" her brother asked.
She looked at him. Armored Soul was wearing full crystal barding along with his battle crown. She could still see some of his white fur under it. His red eyes showed he was eager for the battle to begin.
Well I don’t want to give this order so may as well let him do it. She took in a deep breath, “Armored Soul, the honor is yours, my brother, for it is your plan."
"Ok, all hooves on deck! Battle stations!" Armored Soul commanded.
Violet Barding watched as ponies hurried to their stations, and felt the airship increase in speed. She found her heart racing. It’s okay, no need for self-doubt. It must be done. Father said it was the only way and he’s never been wrong before. It’s for the greater good of Atlantis and the world.
“Black Phoenix Squadron,” Armored Soul barked out at a group of pegasi wearing obsidian armor. “Get your flakes out there and show them who owns the skies.”
“Yes, my lord!”
"Ready, the main cannon and fire upon the city,"
"Wait, brother, what are you doing?" Violet Barding asked, looking worried.
"It called fear tactics, dear sister," Armored Soul said.
Violet Barding closed her eyes. Think happy thoughts, like playing with Sunlit Violet, her eyes full of joy and happiness, or a beautiful winter day with a flash layer of snow.
But instead, she saw Equestrians raining fire and death upon Atlantis, leveling the royal palace knowing Sunlit Violet was inside. She felt sick to her stomach.
"Soldier, take my sister to her room, she looks ill," Armored Soul said.
"Yes, my lord, at once,” the soldier said.
Violet Barding opened her eyes, and saw a soldier was bowing, "This way, your majesty." She simply followed him to her room, as she heard the sound of their cannons fire.
I hope that father’s weapons work against the rulers of this kingdom. The stories I have heard of how powerful Celestia and Luna are worry me. Father may have told me not to worry though, that the weapons he had forged and found would work, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be scared.
A few hours later, she looked over the site of where the city hall once stood. She had found only blood and death. She could hear the sound of ponies begging for their lives or the lives of the young. Her brother had ordered the soldiers to give no quarter, and that’s just what they did. Bodies laid strewn about, some too mangled to ever be recognised. The worst part for her were the bodies of the fillies and colts.
Greater good, is this what we do in your name? How can we put a price on pony lives? What if the roles were reversed? Would this kingdom do the same, or try to find another way? She was about to head back to her airship when she heard something call out weakly. She looked around but she couldn't see anything.
Better use my magic. They may be buried under the ruins of this building. Her horn lit up with a violet aura. Closing her eyes, she felt for any lifeforms nearby. Come on, where are you?
She found one, buried under the ruins of this building. Its life force was weak. Looks like I’m going to need some help digging you out. She opened her eyes, and looked to one of the soldier nearby."Soldier, help me move that debris," she ordered.
"At once, your majesty," he said, as his horn lit up.
Violet Barding and the soldier removed pillars of steel and walls of stone until they found a lavender alicorn. Her wing bone had pierced her skin. Her hind legs were crushed. Her fur had dried blood over most of it, from the deep cuts all over her body.
I know alicorns are supposed to immortal, but this one looks near death to me. So maybe they’re not? She looked to the soldier who looked like he was readying a spell, "What are you doing?"
"Armored Soul’s orders, your majesty. We are to take no prisoners, unless told otherwise."
He may be the Aspect of War, but I still outrank him. And I say there has been enough killing today. "Well, I'm telling you this one is to be taken prisoner and make sure she cared for. If you find another, do the same. Got it?" Violet Barding ordered."And if my brother says anything, tell him that they are my prisoners, and that they won't be harmed."
"As you wish, your majesty," he said with a bow.
She watched as he lifted the wounded alicorn and slowly placed her on his back. She found the alicorn looked weakly at her. Her eyes showed a look of despair, and pain."Why?" the lavender ask, almost to weak to hear.
In truth, I don’t even know. Father said to trust him. Brother called it the greater good. My little sister said, you are giving your foal a brighter future. The senate better not go there. Violet Barding looked down,"Because it is what my subjects and family want," she said.
She watched as the soldier carried her away. Violet Barding knew that alicorns were usually seen as royalty in this kingdom, at least from what their spies had gathered anyway. She would take that one back to their capital. She would be safe there. Better make that all the wounded we find, for I don't trust you my brother.
You may protect Atlantis and defeat our empire’s enemies, but you are also cruel and heartless. You may love everypony in our family and in the empire, but you also love killing and other things unbecoming of an archlord.
Brother, I sometimes wonder what happened to that kind and caring colt you once were. The one who would stand up to father to protect a castless or a lowborn. I do miss that colt so.
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Soarin flew fast over Manehatten, followed by Royal Guard Airships. He looked ahead and saw the shapes of unknown airships coming into view. They cast a shadow upon the land.
Soarin and the other Wonderbolts crossed over the water as they drawing near to the unknown fleet. Soarin looked ahead to find Spitfire and her group were the closed to the fleet. He then notest black armored pegasi take off from the head airship.
They watch as the enemy fell upon Spitfire's group with stunning speed and brutality. Could give any Wonderbolt a run for their bits, and wearing armor at that. He didn’t want to know how fast they were without it. They pulled wings off of unlucky Winderbolts who had been caught in their grasp, some of their wings were like blades that they used to disemboweled any got in the way.This shocked him to the core. It was like they were born only to kill.
"Quick, battle formation! And prepare to move in to support Spitfire's flight!" Soarin shouted, to the other in his flight. Hold on Spitfire we’re coming.
He heard the sound of an Equestrian airship fire its canons upon on of the unknown airship. He looked to where the sound had come from to find to the hit, but it didn’t seem to do much to the enemy airship. The enemy airship then picked up speed, and sliced right through theirs, like a hot knife through butter.
He then heard more cannon fire, coming from his side, he found Equestrian airships were focusing fire on a few at a time, and not engaging one on one. But for everyone they seemed to damage even with their new plan, two of their own fell from the sky in flames.
His flight neared Spitfire's, but they were too late, as he watched as Spitfire was hit by something, and started to fall. “SPITFIRE!” Soarin yelled.
He move to try to save her, but two of the black, armored enemy blocked his path. He tried to outmaneuver them but they were just too fast. He then tried to fly higher, hope they would wouldn't be about to keep up, but to his dismay, they did, and even went past him up.
For the love of Celestia, what are they feeding these ponies!
One cut Soarin’s side with one of those bladed wings, the other he dodged. He then counterattacked, hitting one right in the face with one of his back hooves, as the other moved in with a blade at the end of his hoof.
He knew he couldn't move out of the way in time, so he readied himself to take the hit, but to his relief Fleetfoot rammed right into his opponent's back, sending him fall into the water below.
"Soarin, we have to pull back, there’re too many!" Fleetfoot yell.
"No, we have to save what's left of Spitfire’s flight, and find Spitfire!" Soarin yelled, over the sound of cannon fire.
"They’re gone, and most of the airships are either in flames, or falling back. You’re now the highest ranking pony who we knew is alive, so give the order to fall back already!" Fleetfoot said.
"No, we have to…"
"Soarin if we don't fall back now there will be nothing left of Manehatten, look!" Fleetfoot said, pointing to the city.
Soarin looked back in horror to find most the city in ruins, and that their enemy just kept firing upon it. He looked around and found most of the flight teams were taking haevy losses. He tried to think what Spitfire would do. She would have found a way, but I can’t.
"Give the order, fall back," Soarin said.
He saw Fleetfoot nod, and then hear her yell to fall back. Then they started to free the battle. Soarin hope he made the right call, and that he made the one Spitfire would have.
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Spitfire was lucky enough to find some wreckage, and with it managed to get to dry land. She looked back and found three arrows, one right under her wing, and the other two in her right side. She tried to stand, but only fell on her face in pain.
She looked around to found an enemy soldier heading right towards her. He had his weapon drawn. “I surrender!” she called out, but he just lowered his weapon aiming right at her head and kept coming.
She closed her eye and readied herself for the end,"Wait, the queen has ordered us to take prisoners!" she heard one call out.
She open her eyes to find a sword inches from her face. She then looked over to where the voice came from. She found one of the black, armored pegasi who earlier had attacked her flight.
"But Lord Armored Soul said take no prisoner," she heard the other one say.
"Well the queen changed the order, so get that one to the Phoenix's Wrath," the pegasus said.
"Right away, but what if I run into Lord Armored Soul?" the other said.
"Just tell him that it’s his sister's prisoner," the pegasus said, taking in a breath. "Now get her to Phoenix's Wrath, she looks bad but you should have seen that winged unicorn earlier the queen found, or whatever they're called."
"Yes, sir!" the other said.
Spitfire hoped that they wouldn’t be brutal to a prisoner, or let their soldier have their way with prisoners. Either way, at least she was alive, for how much longer she was unsure but for now she was.
She felt her body ache as the enemy soldier picked her up, and threw her onto his back. Then he started walking, and Spitfire started to think he was taking the most bumpy path possible.
Then he walked past bodies of ponies young and old. They were being thrown onto fires.
The smell of burning flesh was thick in the air, Spitfire nearly throw up. The ones waiting to be burned were piled up into mountains of bodies.
The ones burning and moving the bodies seemed uncaring. They threw them on the fire as if they were little more than wood for the fire. She became fearful of what they would do to the rest of Equestria.
Then she found one looking over the dead fillies and colts. He looked away, and looked to be in pain. It was as if he showed them for the innocents they were. His armor was different as well, where the others wear crystal barding he wore armor of white gold though the engraving were the same.
He then levitated a dead colt into the flames with care, his mouth moving as he said something but she was too far away to her what he said. After he placed the he bowed his head low, then made a some kind gesture with one of his front hooves.
She looked ahead to found an airship of monstrous size. It was carved out of some kind of black metal. Along it side engraved in gold was the name The Phoenix's Wrath. After a few more seconds they enter an open on the side of the airship.
The interior of the airship was much different then Spitfire would have thought. It’s walls were a finely carved wood engraved with a golden scale. Fine red rugs, trimmed in gold lined the floors of this mighty airship.
She watched as they pass many armored ponies who wore looks of cold indifference. Then the one carrying her stopped in front of a door. They entered the room, it was a small room, it was empty say for two beds. One bed held a lavender alicorn.
Her hind legs were in castes, as was one of her wings. Her body was wiped in bandages and she was fast asleep. Her horn had some kind of metal ring around it, and it had a red crystal embedded in it.
She felt the soldier place her on the bed, she looked to face him, “you're lucky the queen took pity on you lowborns, otherwise you’d both be dead and feeding the flames,” the soldier said with malice in his voice.
Then a unicorn wearing white robes entered the room. His horn lit up and Spitfire felt herself growing tired. She tried to fight it but found it only made her more sleepy. Most stay awa...
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Celestia set enjoying a slice of chocolate cake. Her day had been a normal one, Blueblood had tried to gain more land, nobles trying to change the law so they can gain more power and lower how much they pay their help. Somedays she wonder why the nobles bother at all, they tried everyday and she gave the same answer.
She wondered how Twilight was handling her task in Manehatten, probably like how she always did, successfully. It always made Celestia smile when she thought of how Twilight had grown into a fine young princess.
She looked down the dining hall and found a few ponies moving back and forth, cleaning as they went. The sound of guards patrolling the hall of Canterlot Castle. She took a bite of cake as a scroll appeared in a puff of smoke, bearing the seal of the Royal Guard. It had stains of blood on it.
Celestia quickly open it, We are under attack by an unknown enemy. Most of Manehatten is in ruins, Princess Twilight Sparkle is believed dead, along with most of city inhabitants. Send reinforcements at once.
Celestia dropped the scroll, and just sat there unable to think or move. She heard ponies calling her name but don’t respawn. She watched as more scrolls appeared all with the same seal. She wanted to break down and weep but found she couldn’t.
She don’t know how much time past before her sister came running in yelling her name, only to stop and levitate one of the many letters up to read it. Then another, and another, she just keep reading them until she came to one that lay open on the floor.
Luna levitated it up to read, and dropped it after a few scenes, and then wiped her front hooves around her sister. “It will be alright Tia, we will fight them back and I’m sure Twilight made it out,” Luna said.
“Did any of the other letters say she did?” Celestia asked, coldly.
“No, but there is hope,” Luna said.
I know Twilight, if she made it she would have sent a letter by now, which means she either is dead or dying. How could this have happened? Which kingdom have I offended for this to happen?
