The fight for Equestria

Published Edit: 5/16/15

“Wait, what? Hey, where did my mom come from? I think you left out a part of the story. How was my mom and Spike already there?” Silk Star spoke out as Twilight came to a stop in the story.

“Hey, did somepony call?” Came a deep gravelly voice. The head of a tall green and purple dragon poke through the door.

“No, no, Spike. I’m sorry, I was trying to decide where a good stop for one of my stories was to be. And I left out a lot of details.”

“Oh, another story huh? Is it the one where I single handedly stopped Sombra, or I helped save the Lord of Dragons?” Twilight rolled her eyes at the dragon.

“Ok, you did not single handedly defeat Sombra, you helped. And you never helped save a Lord of Dragons, that is your own little story you made up and placed yourself as the hero.”

Spike blushed and chuckled.

“Hey, since your here, would you be kind enough to fix some snacks for everypony?” Twilight added.

“Oh, yea, sure thing. I was getting hungry anyways and it is just about lunchtime. I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you, Spike. Now, I do not mind continuing the story, if you all would be so kind as to clean up some of your toys. I know your mothers will be by soon to pick you all up. You know better than to leave a mess.”

A collective groan went up from the foals all around on the floor.

“Oh, well, I guess I won’t be continuing the story, I mean, it’s almost to one of the good parts too, when my son comes into the story, and many others things. Oh and the big bad monster that we fight-”

“Quick everypony grab the toys and get them put away.” Pecan almost screamed at the top of his lungs. The foals all scrambled about trying to pick up their toys and place them in their proper places, either satchels that came with them, or into the large trunk for toys.

It was almost comical the way they scrambled around. Twilight could not help but to place a hoof over her mouth to keep from laughing.

The foals did not take long to get all of the toys put away. Twilight looked around the room and offered a smile.

“Ah much better, thank you my little ponies. Now, where was I...? Ah yes.”

The foals gathered before her once more.

Twilight had explained the six mares had all decided to go by a different mode of transportation, using three of the larger royal Canterlot chariots. They, as she had expressed previously, had been completely unaware of the town awaiting them for a welcome home celebration and therefore did not think they were expected. The girls had gone on a shopping trip through the main strips of Canterlot before returning to the castle. They all gathered together with the royal Canterlot pegasus and began their journey back. As quick as it was, it was no surprise that Rainbow Dash quickly became bored and goaded Twilight into a race to see how well she was doing with her flying. The soldiers did their best to keep up, but were unable to with their load. The other three left their vehicles and made their way across the ground, while Rarity, and Spike decided to ride the rest of the way.

“Oh, that make’s a little bit more sense.” Silk Star replied, momentarily interrupting Twilight.

“Well, I’m glad to have cleared things up for you.”

“Lunch is ready, and guess who I found.” Spike said as he rounded the corner and entered the room, his physique filling the entire doorway. As he moved to the side, his hands filled with a large tray topped with all sorts of snacks, of sliced apples, honey dipping sauce, chips, muffins, and some drinks. Behind him came a pink Mare, pushing a small cart, where a sleeping foal lay wrapped in a pink blanket. Behind Pinkie came two others, A butter yellow pegasus, with pink hair, and a white Unicorn with a purplish blue mane and tail.

“Rarity, I didn’t know you were back from Baltimare so soon. Oh, you look simply exhausted.” Twilight said once she gaze hugs to Pinkie and Fluttershy, before moving to Rarity. The bags under her eyes, and her mane slightly frazzled left Twilight worried.

“Oh, no worries dear. I pulled another all nighter, and when I made it to the fashion show, there were so many fashion don’ts I felt it a complete disaster. I got a little shut eye after I decided to come home a little early. I just couldn’t bear to be away from my little Silk Star for much longer.” Rarity explained as she walked over to the little white foal and nuzzled her.

“Aw, mommy.” Silk said as she nuzzled her mother back.

“But, I see I missed the big delivery, Pinkie. I’m so sorry.” Rarity turned to Pinkie Pie.

“Aw, I know you would have been there if you could, Rarity. It’s no big deal.”

“Oh, she looks so precious.” Rarity cooed as she looked into the basket, “What’s her name?”

“Cherry Pie. Actually her full name is Chimina Cherry Chunga Pie. Cherry Pie is shorter.” Pinkie replied with a proud smile, as the small foal yawned and rolled over to her side and sucked on her tiny hoof.

Everypony just stared at Pinkie. It was Rarity who asked the question without being able to think it through all the way, “Pinkie, Darling, how many more children are you going to name after actual Pie flavors?”

“How many are there?” Pinkie replied without pause.

Everypony moaned as Pecan walked over to the basket and lifted himself up just enough to stand on his hind legs and look over into the basket at his little sister.

At that moment, Cherry opened her eyes and looked up at her big brother and smiled.

“So, Twilight I see the room isn’t a complete disaster today, What have you been doing with the little ones?” Fluttershy asked

“I had them clean up the mess and was just starting a story.”

“Oh, which one?”

“Um, do you all remember Colt?” The other mares and even Spike paused and looked at each other.

“Twilight, what brought this about?” Spike asked the question they were all thinking. Twilight turned and looked at Silk Star.

“Oh, we were wandering around the castle to see if there were any secret passages like the ones you told us about at the castle of the two sisters. We found this room that was filled with all kinds of old stuff and then we found that picture.” Silk Star explained before pointing over to the framed picture still sitting on the couch leaning against the cushions where Twilight had left it.

The four mares gathered around the couch, each looking at the picture, each with their own thoughts.

“It’s been so many years, Twilight.” Twilight could only nod to Rarity.

“You know, we all still miss him, very much.” Pinkie added.

Twilight bit her lip as she turned to look at Cherry and Pecan, and wondered how different things would have been if Pinkie had returned the affection Colt had once showed her. Then her thoughts began to turn again and she wondered how things would be now for her and the others had she been there for him. Or had done more for him. Maybe, just maybe, there had been a better way to save him than... So many times after he had gone she had felt she was the cause of it all. That he died, either because she had failed as a mother, or had perhaps been the actual reason he was killed.

These darker thoughts occasionally plagued her, left her with fitful sleep. She had not wanted foals, whether through adoption or natural birth since she had lost her son. Her heart at this moment, ached, as much as it once had.

No, that wasn’t quite true. Despite the pain, she could bear it now, quietly, without tears falling.

“Twilight?”

“Huh?” Twilight came back from her thoughts, she realized everypony, and dragon were staring at her, concern in their eyes. She noticed, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were there now. She had been so lost in her own thoughts, she was not even aware of the others coming in, or having spent the last minute or so trying to reach her.

“It still hurts, don’t it sugarcube?” Applejack came over and wrapped a hoof around Twilight.

“Not as much, but yes.”

“Come on, cheer up, you don’t want to lose it in front of the little ones do you? Tell you what, we have all been busy recently, but how bout we come back once the little ones are in bed. I think it’s about time you talk with us, and share some of this pain.” She advised in a low hushed voice.

“Have you been having trouble sleeping? Has Luna been able to help you with any nightmares?” Fluttershy interjected.

“Uh, no. I haven’t slept too well, but no, Luna has been busy with other things. Anytime I try to request to speak with Luna, she seems suddenly busy and unable to help.” The others shared a look. The only pony who had gotten closer than any of them was Luna, and she seemed to have left for a long time after Colt had vanished. Celestia had calmed the ponies around Equestria and assured them all that Luna was only busy with many duties she had and was still near enough to raise and lower the moon. None had wanted to question Celestia, except Twilight and her friends, even then, Celestia was very hesitant to say anything. All she would admit was that Luna needed some time and had gone to see Cadence in the Crystal Pony empire. She had not stayed away for long and returned, but she didn’t seem the same.

Twilight had given up on seeking help from Luna and did her best to deal with problems in her usual way, constantly pushing her nose into books, studies, new spells, other ponies, and more. After a while she had gotten better, but it had festered within her, it was no longer a constant thing, but it came back from time to time.

“If you girls come back, I would enjoy some company tonight. Actually, I think I will go for a bit of a nap, it’s been a long day. Just come wake me when you get here.”

“Sure thing Sugarcube.” Each mare offered Twilight a small hug before taking their foals and heading home for the evening.

“But when are we going to hear the rest of the story?” Whined Thunderclash. The voice of his mother’s response faded as the ponies all walked down the hall, leaving Twilight to herself.

Twilight yawned and left the playroom and made her way down her hall to her own bedroom. Once inside she walked over to her bed by the glowing light of her horn, not wanting to bother with turning on the actual light. Crawling in, Twilight made herself comfortable and closed her eyes, easing herself into sleep. Once more, her last thoughts as she drifted off was of her son, Colt.

Colt was walking down one of the halls of the castle, his back to Twilight. The hall was large, and almost empty save for a table with a vase of flowers in the alcoves. The windows were dark, Twilight briefly wondered how long she had been asleep, and even a small part of her questioned when she had gotten up out of bed.

“Mom, I’m sorry, but its time.”

“What? Time for what?” Twilight asked, her eyes moving back to colt. He stood before a door at the end of the hall.

“It’s time for me to leave, you failed. I loved you, and yet, you still failed. You let me die, and here you bring me back only to die again. I thought I was loved here. But you are as heartless as the other world I came from.”

Twilight now could not halt the tears that came to her eyes and began streaming down her cheeks.

“No, no how can you talk like that? Of course I love you, Colt. I always have. I have not forgotten you.” Twilight began to move towards Colt, she wanted to hug him, to hold him in her arms.

The door behind Colt opened to darkness beyond. He turned, and there she saw him change. He was wounded, hurt, and filthy. Just as he had been that same day. A large black shadow with red eyes emerged from beyond the door, wrapping around him, changing him from white to black, red mane and tail to an off gray color.

“No. NO! Not again. Blackheart, stay away from him.” Twilight screamed recognizing the darkness that was going into his body. She lit up her horn and shot at the shadow. As the bolt of light hit, Colt screamed out in pain.

“Why!? Why are you hurting me mom?” Colt screamed out, his eyes turning to her, the pain on his face, the blood seeping out of his side where she had shot the shadow. OR at least, she thought she had.

“No, I was trying to protect you. I did what you asked. You said it was the only way to save everypony.” Twilight screamed, tears falling hard down her face, an unstoppable flood at this point as all the pain that had been sheltered away inside of her came flooding forth.

At this, small pinpricks of light began to appear through the darkness beyond the door, as a figure emerged from beyond.

“Twilight Sparkle, hold thyself. This is not Colt.” Came the voice of Luna. Her form appeared from the doorway and entered into the hallway.

“Luna? I... I’m dreaming?” Twilight asked, wholly confused.

“Indeed, you are. I want to speak to you, Twilight. But first,” Luna’s horn lit up and the image of Blackheart and Colt vanished in the overwhelming white light. “Twilight,” Luna spoke as she approached her fellow princess, “I am so sorry I have not been here to help you. I fear this is partly my fault for not doing my duty as the Princess of the Night and helping you cope with your loss. It was my own foolishness to think that only your closest friends could help you mend your heart. I, too am your friend, and I was selfish. But, please understand, I too was hurt when Colt left. I was stuck in Canterlot when I had finally awoke from my slumber. So, I could not be there when...” Luna paused a moment, to keep herself from crying and to gather herself once more, “Twilight, please forgive me.”

“Forgive you? Luna, what happened had nothing to do with you. How could you be suffering? You are not the one who lost your foal, I was.”

Luna nodded, “Nay, I did not lose a foal, but I lost a pony I came to understand, and even care for, as much as any other pony that was close to him.”

“Luna, what do you mean?”

“Let me just say that I came to understand Colt in a way that nopony else has. Now, I am not here to speak of myself. I came here, as I friend, to try and help you. These dreams are from the feelings and pain of your heart you have bottled up within yourself all this time.”

“But, what else can I do?”

“You can talk to your friends, talk to me. I was not there for you when you needed me, even came to seek me out. I was a horrible friend to you for that, but I am here now. Please, allow me to take time to listen to your grief, to what troubles you, Twilight.”

Luna cautiously stepped up to Twilight. She noted how Twilight lowered her head, her eyes seeming closed as she continued crying, finally unable to stop the tears now that they had begun to fall.

“Luna, how... How did you come to understand him in a way nopony else could?” Twilight asked, her eyes turning up to the elder Alicorn. Luna halted in her steps, the eyes staring at her, seemed to want to accuse her of something, to go to her, to be comforted, and yet to be angry with. But without a definitive reason, there was confusion, a gray cloud in her eyes that showed. Luna closed her own eyes and heaved a resigning sigh before she too sat back and wrapped a wing around Twilight, trying to comfort her.

“I shall endeavor to share with you, as much as I learned, that I know you will be able to handle. But this will take time, dear Twilight. There is much to say of the mind of Colt. Let us go back to the beginning, and try to fill in the blanks that we each know, or have learned over time.”

Twilight leaned her head against Lunas chest and nodded. It took a minute, but her sobs began to subside, and her mind was able to calm itself. She in turn began to think of Colt, and when he first appeared in her life.

It was fairly late in the evening when the party the town had set up for the six friends, and Twilight had gathered them all together as things began to wind down. It was agreed upon that they would return to the castle the next day and share their adventures, and things they had been capable of accomplishing together, and separate.

Twilight had woken up a bit late in the morning, allowing herself to lounge in the bed, for once before making her way to her renewed book collection, finding a title she had wanted to read. She had worked her way to the kitchen on the first floor, and sat down to some grain toast. Not long after, Spike had entered and began working on a good breakfast for the two to enjoy. The day seemed promising, Twilight had thought to herself. They had all done so much for so many other ponys and other races, bringing the power of friendship across the lands. It had at first started with the castle connecting to each of the girls, as if alive somehow, and sent them out together, but as time went on, they came to understand in some situations, only a few or specifically one of them could use their experience to resolve some issues.

This was how they first had begun to be seen as emissaries of the pony kingdom.

Not long after her musings, she and Spike enjoyed their breakfast, and conversation. As they finished their breakfast, there came a resounding knock that echoed through the castle. Twilight made her way to the front doors, as Spike had remained behind to clear the table and clean the dishes.

The girls were a little earlier than Twilight had expected, but greeted and welcomed them warmly into her home nonetheless.

The girls sat around their chairs speaking, and laughing, As a book was passed to each one. As the book made its way to a pony, than she began their newly made ritual of reciting their adventures, the book magically writing the text and words as they spoke and remembered things that had happened. Once done, Spike picked up the book and took it over to the shelves nearby, where it glowed and floated from his outstretched claws. A beam of light shot to the partially filled book shelf and, the words flowed from the book to the shelves, where appeared books with the cutie mark of the mare could be spotted on the spine. Shorter stories were collected into one book, while longer ones became volumes all of their own accord.

It was something that was provided by both Twilight and the castle. A sharing of magic, she had explained, to take their stories and pass it on to later generations when they were no longer around.

The girls spent many hours talking and catching up, even sharing lunch, that both Fluttershy, and Spike had fixed together for everypony.

Around the time that they had finished their lunch, than a loud knocking sound came from the door to the room. Twilight had excused herself and went to see who it was. She had long before already worked to bring back a library to Ponyville, finding copies of many of the books she had lost, some donated, and even many newer ones. She had already decreed the Library section of the castle open to the public.

When she opened the door with her magic, she paused, an eyebrow raised. There before her, stood an armored pegasus pony, orange in color, with blue mane and tail.

“Flash, is something wrong?” Flash, upon Twilights return home with her friends, had been assigned by Celestia and Twilight along with many different other guard ponies. The Sentries, Rainbow Dash had jokingly nicknamed them, were to guard Twilights castle, and by extension the town.

“Well, we found something strange. It, might be best if you came for a look yourself.” Flash reported, in a more comfortable tone, than the usual bark of a military guard.

“What do you mean? Is it Discord?”

“No, I don’t think this has anything to do with Discord, though I would not be surprised the way this pony appeared out of nowhere.”

“A pony appeared out of nowhere? Flash, you’re not making any sense.”

Flash put a hoof on the back of his head, “Uh, well the whole thing is really weird, even, I think, by Discord standards.”

“His standards don’t usually include whipped cream with his cotton candy clouds and chocolate rain.” Pinkie complained, seeming to appear next to Flash out of nowhere.

“What is it with you and whipped cream, Pinkie?” Rainbow Dash called.

“Whipped cream makes everything better. EVERYTHING!” Pinkie yelled back, her face serious, before she smiled and bounded back to her seat.

Twilight could only shake her head, before returning her attention to Flash, who seemed at a loss for words.

“Just, explain what happened, if you don’t mind?” Twilight encouraged.

“Well... I was speaking with a soldier, when we both starting hearing this strange high pitched noise. It was so loud we both had to cover our ears, it was actually kind of painful. Uh, anyways, when it ended I looked over and spotted this foal, laying on the ground.”

Twilight immediately became alert, “A foal lying on the ground? Are they okay? Were their parents nearby?”

“Uh, well, this was inside the castle, and nopony else was around, no children, no parents. Aside from the seven of you, and of course the guards, there are no other ponies here. I even still have some of my men searching around. I sent a couple of guards with the foal to the hospital to see if anything was wrong. He is alive, but unconscious.”

“Wow, that is weird. Okay, so we can finish up here and go ensure the foal is okay.”

“Well, that’s not all. There was, something in the wall of the castle, sort of, like a giant hole or something.” Flash seemed at a loss as to what to actually say at this point.

Finally, Twilight agreed to go and check on everything. Just as they were about to leave, another guard came up and reported that the giant hole was gone.

“Are you sure Discord has nothing to do with this?” Twilight asked again.

“Well, I can’t really say. But last I heard, the same as you, Discord is gone on an errand for Celestia.”

“Well, we will know soon enough. I know a chaos detecting spell, Celestia taught me.” The two made their way through the castle, the other five mares following, now caught up with curiosity as to what was going on.

Flash pointed out where the hole had appeared, and Twilight worked to see if there was any chaos magic used around there, when she found none, she was quite a bit perplexed. After this she and Flash went to the hospital where the foal was.

Once they made it to the hospital, they were directed down the hall to a room where, they were told, the foal was still unconscious.

Twilight entered the room alone, first, while Flash stood outside speaking to one of the guards who brought the foal. Within, the room seemed dark, with the curtains drawn closed, the smell of antiseptics was strong. The only sound in the room, aside from Twilights own beating heart, was that of an incessant beeping sound from a monitor nearby the bed. A curtain on the left side of the bed was drawn only part way, as if there were another pony sharing the room. Upon investigation, Twilight found an empty bed.

She could see it was a small unicorn foal, with white fur, and a striking bright red mane. As Twilight stood looking over the foal, she spotted a movement at its back. She walked over and grabbed the edge of the blanket in the aura of her magic, slowly pulling the blanket part way down.

“I-it couldn’t be, but...” Twilight tilted her head in slight confusion.