"The Changelings are hitting Canterlot hard, but we're not giving up now!"
"Here they come, get ready!"
One Phantom Raider after the next fired off their Sky Packs, propulsing forward towards the cloud of Changelings that dominated the sky. One by one, they began to fall to the ground in sliced up heaps or messy scraps that were filled with even more holes than they began with. The Phantom Raiders were quick to careen at any enemy, slicing or blasting them apart on the fly. The extremely loud hum of the Changeling's wings previously blotted out the sky, which was now hissing with the sound of jet and gun fire.
The sun was setting quickly, bathing all of Equestria in a dark shade of magenta as Luna's moon took to the sky. One of the Phantom Raiders took great notice in this, and called out to his comrades. "Sun's settin' boys! This is our battle now! Show em' no mercy!" The surrounding warriors all roared out in a "hoorah" before resuming battle with the Changeling insurrection. The maniacal parasites were now infuriated, swarming about the annoyances that pestered them from rooftop to rooftop.
As the ominous shadow of night fell upon Canterlot, the warriors suddenly became completely invisible to the Changelings. As the one Phantom Raider had called out, it was nightfall. This was their fight now, and they would prosper. That was, however, if the torches and lights about town were all distinguished.
"See how they scurry about in the dark like cockroaches?" It was more of a statement then a question, and it roused Princesses Celestia and Luna out of their deep thoughts upon watching such an intense battle from the safety of their castle's "protection chamber." The Chancellor, Ma'dam Saber-Hooves, looked up to Celestia from beside her in front of a nearby window. In response, Celestia turned to meet her gaze.
"I believe "cockroach" is such a harsh word to describe these otherworldly warriors by." Her reply caused the Chancellor to scowl, obviously very displeased with the Princess's response. Before she could retort, Luna continued in her place.
"These off-worlders have been distant from our rule for quite some time. Yet now, they show their true colors. They are risking their lives to stop the Changelings from taking over our Capitol. Does that make them "cockroaches" for aiding our rule in this trying time? Does it make them "cockroaches" for standing against the tyrannical wishes of Queen Chrysalis? We do not believe that makes them "cockroaches," Grandmother." Luna's brief monologue caused Ma'dam Saber-Hooves to go completely silent. Her displeased scowl persisted as she devised a way to properly punish Celestia and Luna for their speaking out of line.
"We can't win this thing if all the lights aren't put out!" The voice of the same Phantom Raider called out. His comrades "Oy'ed" in unison. Thank whatever God watched over this world, for their were many of this location's "Guards" out protecting the city at this late hour. The Phantom Raider looked to his fellows, and they too returned his determined posture. One by one, the raiders all dropped down to the numerous Guards taking places near houses and street lamps.
At first, the tall Amazon-built Equestrian Guards raised their spears to them. However, with these other-worldy creatures raising their hands and asking for a brief moment of their time, they slowly but surely chose to listen to these strange warriors. "Look, I know we aren't exactly "locals" in this situation, but we can help you stop the Changelings. Where's your Captain?" The Guards raised their spears, the sharp and shimmering points being dangerously close to running them through.
"Do you take us for foals? We will not let you lay a finger on our Captain." The reply caused the Raider to slouch in disappointment.
"Your Capitol is gonna' fall, lady. If you can just please, for the love of God, do as we say, you might live through the night. Sure, we might not be the friendliest poep- I mean ,"Ponies" around, but at the end of the of the night you can guarantee that Canterlot will be free of the Changelings if you take us to your Captain. Right now."
The Guard lowered her spear for a brief moment, and prepared to reply. That was all the time it took for a Changeling to swoop in and lift her off and have it's others slash mercilessly at her. Her screams only carried on for a moment before going completely silent. Her fellow Guard and the nearby Raiders could all hear the faint sound of blood and entrails splashing and splatting about the rooftops. The one Raider among the other two grabbed the second Guard by the shoulders, and forced her to meet his gaze.
"RUN TO YOUR CAPTAIN. WAIT FOR US TO PUT OUT ANY TORCHES OR LIGHTS BEFORE GOING UNDER THEM. DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?" His quick commands took little time to sink into the mare's adrenaline fueled mind, and she quickly nodded at him.
"I will follow you, warrior. You saved my sister recently, and for that I owe you my life. Let us go, now." This reply caught the Raider off guard, and he nodded in surprise. Without another word, the group took off under the lead of the Guard. One by one, the torches and lights in the Guard's path were put out. She would make note of the surroundings before the torch was distinguished, using her acute knowledge of the city to help her navigate. The Phantom Raiders followed close behind, using their advanced technology to see in the night and dispose of any nearby Changelings.
"We have almost arrived, off-worlders! Stay near, the Changeling swarm is getting thicker!" The Guard's calls were met by an "Oy!" simultaneously from every Phantom Raider nearby. The Guard's faith in these warriors was strengthened, and she called out to them as she safely arrived at the barracks. "You have my thanks, off-worlders! Equestria could use more talented stallions like you!" She gave them a flirtatious wink before sprinting inside the barracks to consult the Captain.
One of the Guards protecting the perimeter off the barracks called up to them. "Afternoon' up there Masked Stallions! Good to see some foreigners actually workin' for their keep in our land! You should stay after this and get some drinks with us! I promise you we won't disappoint!" This caused the entire roof-top crowd to burst into laughter.
The main Phantom Raider called back in reply. "Sorry lady, but we don't do dates! We do appreciate the gesture, however! Keep that offer open!" The other Phantoms hooted and hollered in reply.
"Sure thing, chica! You remember the name Armandos, it will come in handy!"
"I could use a good, strong mare. What do you guys think?"
"Hell naw' man, I ain't goin' near that brick wall."
"Tiny pony is good. Who touched sandvich?"
"Good God, they're all giants."
The cat-calls and hoots all silenced when the main gate to the barracks opened, revealing the form of a truly stunning unicorn mare. She sported a snow-white coat and metallic blue mane, complimented by her saphire blue eyes that were squinted intensely at these newcomers. Her form was just as built as the other guards, and stood at just a foot taller than her soldiers to boot. Her armor hinted at not only a strong combatant, but a swift one as well.
"So you are the ones that have been saving my knights, yes?" The main Phantom Raider strode to the edge of his respective rooftop.
"We tried our best, ma'am, but some of them were beyond our help at the moment. I hope you can forgive that." The unicorn gave a gentle smile before replying.
"I can appreciate the thought of you doing what you can, my friend. An apology won't be necessary. I, Shining Armor, Captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard, ask what you would have us do in this trying situation." Her response took no pondering from the Phantom Raider. Instead, he instantly nodded.
"Put out all the lights, Captain Shining. Without a light to home in on, these insects won't know where to hit us."
-
"The lights. . .they're. . . all going out?" The Chancellor voiced her obvious concern. Celestia and Luna both smiled, looking over to their surrogate grandmother.
Celestia cleared her throat, and spoke. "The lights have all gone out, grandmother. It seems that now, your "cockroaches" will thrive and defeat the Changelings."
The Chancellor's scowl intensified, and she began thinking of punishments beyond unspeakable Mid-Equestrian torture.
"What do you MEAN they've TURNED OUT ALL THE LIGHTS?" The infuriated tone of Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings, bore into the souls of her present Changeling Captains. They all shivered in fear under the ominous presence of their Queen, hoping she would not punish them for their major failure. "Go out there, and sweep the streets until you've subdued and captured every last one. We will have our feast, and nothing, not even these assassins of the night can stop us."
The thought of a great feast of love was all the reason these nearly mindless monsters needed to refuel their resolve. They saluted before their wings began to beat with new life and lift them out and off over the Capitol.
Queen Chrysalis set a hoof upon Celestia's throne, and chuckled menacingly as she did so. "This day is going to be perfect, and these shadow fools will not stop me."
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!!" A rather loud and alerting war-cry from a Phantom Raider completely slicing through a Changeling with a blade caused all of his nearby comrades to cheer even louder. "That's how we get it done, boys! That's how we freakin' get it do- AUGH!" His taunt was cut short as a Changeling dug it's jagged claws into his chest, ripping his lungs open. He was carried up and into the sky, and a cloud of the sickly looking black ponies began to swarm about him.
"ARMANDOS, NO!" A nearby Phantom Raider called out to him, firing off a barrage of rocket-propelled projectiles. They all violently detonated and engulfed the hungry parasites in a ball of pure fire. Short screeches rang out before going completely silent. Armandos was no where to be seen, and his rocket launcher-wielding ally roared in rage and grief.
"YOU'RE ALL GONNA' FUCKIN' PAY NOW, YOU SONS'A BITCHES!" With that statement, the sky became illuminated by numerous detonations. It was literally raining Changeling Corpses for a rather lengthy moment before subsiding.
As the haze of smoke from the explosions cleared, there were far less Changelings then when the warriors had begun. The Phantom Raiders all knelt in a brief moment of silence for their fellow, Armandos. It was always traditional to clear a great amount of enemies after a comrade had fallen, and honor them with that time before returning to battle. Armandos was gone, and this filled his fellows with resolve. The main Phantom Raider was the first to return his gaze skyward, now consumed by his determination to exterminate these disgusting bastards before they did any more harm.
"Phantom Raiders, show no mercy."
"By Faust, did you see that?" The Chancellor cried out after the great show of explosions had ended. "We cannot possibly allow such power to roam within our Kingdom! Within our world! Do you honestly expect them to be good, honest creatures with the amount of violence they have created?" Celestia turned her gaze down to the frail, short-sighted Chancellor, and replied coldly to her.
"In some situations, it takes violence to create peace. I can feel him, grandmother. It pains him so to harm another being, but he does so with a sense of the greater good. He knows these creatures can't be reasoned with, and he knows they must die. Does that make him or his allies any different from us? Are his intentions ill-fated? I do not agree with that, grandmother. I simply believe you can't come to terms with the fact that they are more effective, precise, and calculated then our Guards."
Celestia cried out in pain as her form fell to the floor. Her body violently twitched in pain as the Chancellor stood over her. One would notice now that an ebony black ring was fitted around her horn, and it was sparking with a deep red electricity. Celestia's entire body was alight with the same effect, and she cringed in pain from the aftermath. Luna's horn ignited, but she was instantly stopped by the same electrical shock. "Remember your place, granddaughters. I will not allow you to speak to me in such a way." Her horn ring sparked once more, lifting Celestia to her feet.
"I will, however, dispose of both these Changelings, and those unwelcome Phantom Raiders. If you or your sisters disagree, I will put you in your place."
"My Queen, they are near the throne room now! They are headed directly towards us!" A nervous and jittery Changeling Captain's voice caused Chrysalis to look over with an expression of pure rage.
"Stop. Them. *NOW!!*" Her bone-chilling hiss caused the Captains to spring to action, flying off to try and stop these off-worlders. Chrysalis herself sat upon Celestia's throne, deep in thought. Just who were these powerful Phantom Raiders, and how did Celestia gain them at her side? It would be no matter soon, for she would be in control of not only them, but all of Equestria. She chuckled silently to herself at the thought, raising a hoof to her mouth.
"Cherish your last few hours of battle, Phantom Raiders. Soon, you will be mine. No pony in Equestria will ever think to stand against me once I control you."
"The Queen's right up ahead! Stay on your Gaurd, and stay out of sight!" The main Raider leaped from numerous rooftops ahead of his fellows, and was the first to the entrance of Canterlot's Throne Chamber. "This is it, gentlemen. We pull this off or die trying. These people may have wronged us, but we are who we are. We help those that can't help themselves. We protect the week, and in turn, hope that the week return that gesture to the strong. Phantom Raiders, strike a pose! This is VICTORY!"
His final war cry caused the entire crowd of shadow warriors to roar out in unison. Many a silhouetted fist rose into the air, and opticals of a multicolored plethora illuminated with a purpose that moment. Just as soon as the army of soul-piercing eyes had appeared, they subsided back into darkness.
Chrysalis reveled in the bliss and pleasure of conquering Canterlot, sitting atop the throne and giggling almost child-like at the thought of finally ruling Equestria. She single-handedly infiltrated Canterlot, gained power from that idiot Guard Captain and her wife, and defeated God in her own throne chamber. Yes, these Phantom Raiders were giving her subjects quite a beating, but if they faced her she would have absolutely no trouble taking control of them herself. These ones seemed to have a special resistance to magic,, but that would not matter. She had gained /more/ than magic at that point, and that was truly feeling invincible. She felt as if nothing could stand against her, and any that tried would be decimated at the mere flick of the wrist.
"Chrysalis, that's enough. Give up, or we'll show no mercy." What was that? Queen Chrysalis could've sworn she had heard a tiny voice just then. "Wakey wakey, ass-for-snout. We've got a bone to pick with you." Yes, that was a voice, wasn't it? The Queen lowered her gaze, and saw nothing but the impending darkness enveloping her throne room. She knew instantly what was occurring, and let out a husky cackle as she peered unknowingly into the darkness.
"So you've finally arrived, shadow warriors. Here I was afraid that you wouldn't arrive, and my conquer of Equestria would be that much easier." Her sarcastic tone bore into the nerves of the hidden Raiders,especially upon the Main Raider's.
"I'll make you chew on those gritty words, you over-sized cockroach." This retort caused Chrysalis to frown, and stand from her throne. A scowl was visible upon her snout, her eyes were squinted in anger.
"Reveal yourselves, you foals who dare stand against me. If you boast such confidence, then you should not fear fighting me in the torch light. Come, foalish warriors. Let me deliver you to Tartarus."
The Main Raider reached up to his forehead, and pulled down a crimson bandanna over his cyan opticals. It gave the illusion of the eyes "glaring" in an intimidating manner. He then threw his arm out and pointed to the Changeling Queen from within the shadows.
"Phantom Raiders! Show er' what we're made of!"
