Close Encounters of Pony Kind

Somewhere in the galaxy far away is a beautiful, Earth-like planet known as Equis.  This planet is inhabited by sentient and magical creatures thought to only exist in fairy tales by humans.  They are Pegasi, Unicorns, Alicorns, Gryphons, Dragons, and Minotaurs, including Earth Ponies and Zebras.  These creatures lived in peaceful harmony and tranquility, never at war or hostility.

  However, that peace is shattered as Canterlot, the capital city of the largest nation named Equestria, is under attack by an evil force led by an ambitious Unicorn of Darkness...

"The Dark Army has breached the city perimeter!  Don't let them reach the castle!!!" one of the Royal Guards yelled to the others, firing long arrows from their crossbows.

  A loud explosion was heard as a black ball of magical energy smashed into a house, knocking off all the pegasi on it, rendering them unconscious or killed as they hit the ground.  Luckily, all the Canterlot townsponies have been evacuated to cities far away.  Another explosion impacted and killed the front line of unicorns.

  "There are too many of them, Captain!" called out a panicked pegasus Guard, "We need to fall back!"

  "NO!" snapped Shining Armor, "We need to hold them off to buy the Princesses more time to send the Elements off!"

  As he said those words, he thought about his sister, Twilight Sparkle.

  "Twily." he muttered worryingly, then snapped out of his thoughts as he fired a magic arrow at a black, wolf-like beast as it lunged at him, killing it instantly.  He was already nearing the limit of his magic, as his horn is smoking from killing fifty of them.  If Shining wasn't married to the Royal Sisters' niece, Princess Cadence, the Alicorn of Love, he would've only killed half the number and succumb to exhaustion.

  "Captain!  We can't--- AAAH!!!" one Guard screamed in anguish as one of the Dark beasts shredded him with its claws.

Buck! the captain swore in his thoughts, then called to a pegasus who impaled the same beast with her spear, "Lieutenant Simmerwind, keep them at bay as best you can! I will head back and check on the Princesses and their progress!"

  The pegasus saluted before bucking another beast in the face with her back hooves.  Then, Shining galloped off in the opposite direction, towards the castle.

Princess Celestia, I hope you know what you're doing. he thought, I don't know much about this 'human' world that Cadence told me about, but this is my sister and her friends you're sending away.

  He killed more beasts as he continued.

In the throne room of the castle stood the alicorn Princess of the Day.  She remained there for what seemed like hours, as if in a meditative state.  Distant explosions were heard, and she fought the verge of tears as she felt the pain and cries of her subjects in the battlefield.

  "Auntie Tia." said a calm voice behind her.

  She turned her head to see Cadence coming up to her and nuzzling her.  Celestia regained her composure as she returned the gesture.

  "Don't worry, I will be fine." she said with a smile, though she is really not.

  Then, the door on the other side opened, and they turned to see the familiar Princess of the Night.  The door closed and locked quickly as she entered.

  "Lulu." Celestia greeted as the blue alicorn approaches, "I hope it was successful?"

  Luna nodded.  "Yes, dear sister.  We have put the Elements to sleep inside the magic pod.  They will not wake until they safely land on Earth.  The pod is now ready to launch at thy command."

  At this, Celestia nodded back.  "Good.  Now, we wait."

  But Cadence feels concerned.  "I hope my sister-in-law and her friends will be all right.  Humans are unpredictable at heart."

  Celestia turned to her and smiled.  "I can assure you they will, Cadenza.  My faithful student is an alicorn, after all, as well as the Element of Magic.  She and her friends can take care of themselves."

  Cadence smiled, but still unsure.  Celestia looked out through a stained-glass window.  Though it is still daytime, the smoke from the burning city darkened the skies, giving it a scary impression of nighttime.  She was abruptly snapped from her thoughts as a voice outside the door screamed,

  "The last line of defense has been breached!  The Dark Army is approaching the---"

  Whoever spoke was cut short as the doors burst inwards with enough force to knock them off its hinges and smoke filled the room.  After the smoke cleared, the alicorns saw a certain white unicorn with a shield-like Cutie Mark on its flank lying motionless on its side.  Bruises and cuts were seen on its body.

  "Shiny!" cried Cadence, recognizing the downed Captain.

  She was about to run to help, but Celestia raised her wing in front of her.  Cadence glared at her, but stopped as she noticed the Sun Princess staring past the unicorn.  She looked in her direction, and gasped.

  Slowly approaching the throne is none other than the feared black Unicorn of Darkness, King Sombra.  His red eyes with black slits met with Celestia's magenta-colored gaze, and a small smirk appeared on his muzzle.  He stopped his approach, near the injured Shining.

  "Celestia." he said coolly, "It's been a long time."

  "Sombra." the Sun Princess replied calmly with a hint of venom.

  The king cackled, unfazed by her tone.  "You remembered my name! I'm flattered!"

  He stopped laughing and looked down at Shining.

  "How weak." he growled, "If he wasn't so busy fighting my minions, we would have made a decent duel."

  He looked up to Cadence, who gave him a death glare, which did not faze him.

  "You are lucky I'm not in a killing mood, Princess of Love.  Otherwise. your little Shining Armor would've breathed his last."

  With that said, he fired up his curved, black horn and lifted up the captain in his magical aura, eliciting a groan from the latter.  Then, Sombra tossed him to the side, slamming him into a wall.  Cadence galloped to him, this time Celestia made no attempt to stop her.  She tried to comfort the unconscious Captain, saying "Everything will be okay" softly in his ear.  Ignoring them, Sombra turned to the other two alicorns and continued his slow approach, still smirking evilly as he looked around.

  "I have to confess, Canterlot truly is a magnificent city, though not as grand as the Crystal Empire, but nonetheless." he said calmly, "A city fit for a king, is it not?"

"THOU WILL NEVER HAVE OUR CITY, CRETIN!" boomed Luna in the the Royal Voice, "THOU WILL TAKE THY ARMY AND LEAVE WITH THEE!"

  Unflinchingly, Sombra stopped near the steps of the throne and looked at the Lunar Princess, then grinned.

  "Ah, Princess Luna, the one known as Mare in the Moon.  Finally by your sister's side after your thousand-year banishment as Nightmare Moon." he sneered as Luna flinched at the sound of that name.  He sighed and shook his head.  "If only I came back at the time of your release.  We would have made great rulers of Equestria, with you bringing the Eternal Night."

"WE WILL NEVER JOIN THEE!"

  This made Sombra chuckle.  "Of course not.  It's the Elements of Harmony we have to thank for that."

  Luna flared out her wings and ignited her horn, ready to attack, but Celestia stopped her, which Luna reluctantly complied.  Sombra only grinned slightly.

  "Why are you here, Sombra?" hissed the white alicorn, thought she already knows the answer, "Why did you attack us?"

  Sombra's grin turned into a devious smile.  "The answer is simple: To overthrow you and rule over Equestria."  He puffed out his chest and raised his chin slightly in a proud manner.  "I grew tired of trying to make the Crystal Empire mine.  All it did was keep sending me back to Tartarus.  Realizing this, I've decided to change my ways: To go from ruling an empire to ruling an entire nation!"

  He turned and walked a few steps away, then reared up and raised his forelegs in the air.  "Imagine!  All of Equestria under my rule, bidding to do as I please.  Not only will I have Canterlot and her cities..."  He paused as he looked at Cadence and Shining, and grinned.  "...but also the Crystal Empire."

  After finishing his speech with a cackle, Celestia spoke in her usual calm manner, "You know that you stand little chance against us alicorns, especially alone as a unicorn, yet you believe to defeat us?"

  Sombra went back on all fours, then turned to her with a smirk.  "That is true.  I, alone, cannot match you magic-wise."  His smirk turned into a smug smile.  "Which is why I was hit with a revelation!"  He approached them again as the two gave him a curious glare.

  He continued, "After learning you and Luna are no longer attached to the hallowed Elements of Harmony, but they are now attached to six of your subjects, I knew I have the upperhoof."

  He stopped again at the steps, still grinning.  "With the Elements, my magic will be powerful enough to defeat you, and bring this pathetic nation under my rule."

  This time, Celestia used the Royal Voice, which she rarely use, "YOU WILL NEVER USE THEM!  THE ELEMENTS HOLDS THE POWER OF LIGHT AND PEACE!  DIRECT USE WILL ONLY DESTROY YOU!"

  Still unfazed, Sombra cackled, "Who says I will use them directly?"

  Celestia did a double-take.  He merely smiled.  "You forget that my powers can instill fear and manipulate my victim's heart, allowing me full access to the pony's mind.  With said power, I will control the Element Bearers and use them against you."  He stopped smiling and stared at her.

  "Which brings me to my final question." he snarled as he stomped with one hoof, causing the ground to quake, "WHERE ARE THE ELEMENTS?!  MY PATIENCE WEARS THIN WITH YOUR STALLING!!" he roared.

  After a moment, Celestia closed her eyes and a tiny smile appeared on her muzzle, receiving a confused look from the Dark King.

  "You are already too late." she replied softly.

  Before anypony could react, she fired up her horn.  A low rumbling was heard as the magic pod slowly ascended into view from outside through the glass window.  Sombra noticed this and went to get a closer look.  To his horror, he saw the sleeping Element Bearers and Twilight's assistant, Spike, inside, with their Elements on them.

  Before attempting to stop it with his own magic, the pod immediately flew skywards at breakneck speed, before vanishing with a faint flash.

  "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Sombra bellowed as he turned to the Sun Princess.

  Celestia smiled.  "I have sent them away... far, far away and out of your reach."

  "WHERE?!" he roared venomously.

  No response, and Sombra huffed in anger.  "No matter.  I still have my army!  When they get here, you will die, and I will rein supreme over Equestria!"

  Then, Cadence and Shining, the latter who finally regained consciousness and his wounds fully healed, appeared at the Sun and Moon Princesses' side.

  "Bring it on, Sombra!" countered the unicorn as his horn glowed, "We won't give up that easily!"

  As if on cue, snarls and growls were heard as the Dark Beasts breached the castle walls.  Sombra's evil laughter echoed as he vanished in a black and purple mist.

  In slow motion, Celestia closed her eyes as Luna, Cadence, and Shining clashed with the oncoming Dark Beasts, the castle as their final stand.

Twilight Sparkle. she thought to herself, May you and your friends be in good hooves until we see each other again... soon.

  With that thought aside, she joined in the fray.

Meanwhile, in the deep vastness of space, the magic pod continued its breakneck pace, leaving a streak of light as its tail.

  Inside sleeps the Mane Six and Spike, completely oblivious as their ride made its way toward their destination:

  Earth.

Fimfiction.net proudly presents...

A "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Fan Fiction" novel

Close Encounter Of Pony Kind

By

Valiant Hearts

Starring

Justin as Narrator (Other)

Princess Twilight Sparkle

Applejack

Pinkie Pie

Rarity

Rainbow Dash

Fluttershy

and Spike

Guest Starring

Princess Luna