Liberty for All

“… Mmmph… Mhhybe fwe fhon’t hafhhe tuh stahp righ’ afhway… ‘Fhelly?”

I spat out the pillow and wiped off the drool hanging from the corner of my mouth. My head throbbed and my legs ached, like I just ran a few miles and then slammed headfirst into a wall.

That usually meant we went a little overboard.

Shelly was my best friend, but sometimes our relationship got a little too crazy. ‘Friends with benefits’ had always been the way we identified ourselves, though there were times when Shelly treated us like we were a couple. Especially in bed… Or at least, that was how I saw it.

There wasn’t anything wrong with that. I loved her as any best friend would. I couldn’t imagine my life without her. I just hoped that I’d have the confidence someday to let her know that I wasn’t looking to marry her. If only I could find a way to say it without hurting her….

Rubbing my eyes open, I noticed the bed was empty, covers piled on the floor. Shelly wasn’t here. Maybe she went to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

I hadn’t even managed to pry myself from the bed before the door suddenly opened. Shelly burst through and slammed it shut, pressing her back against it.

“Woah! Shelly! What’s gotten into you?” I asked, startled.

I expected her to crack some kind of joke about the night before, but something was wrong. She didn’t even look at me. Her eyes were wide and her chest was heaving, as if she had just witnessed something terrifying.

“…W-We have to leave.”

“Did we sleep in again? I haven’t checked-”

“No, Chorus,” Shelly interrupted, her voice suddenly much more frightened, “Something’s happening. I think… I think we’re under attack.”

“W-what?” I said. Shelly ran and grabbed what clothes she could find, hastily putting them on and throwing some to me as I got to my feet.

“Get dressed! We need to get out of here!”

“I don’t understand, Shelly, what’s happening? Who’s attacking us?”

“Chorus!” Shelly turned to face me, trying to keep her voice down. Her hands clamped around my shoulders, “I don’t know what’s happening. The whole barracks is in chaos. Some huge, antlered people I’ve never seen before are grabbing mares left and right. Even stallions in the guard are helping them! We NEED to leave!”

I heard the horror in Shelly’s words. I had never seen her this scared before.

“O-ok. What do we do?”

“We need to find weapons, but the armory’s too far. We can try for the training room and then head to the back exit of the barracks. We’ll take the sky bridge across the river and find our way from there.”

I nodded nervously. We finished getting on our clothes, putting on our padded vestments which we normally wore underneath our armor. Sweat dripped from my head as I lined up behind Shelly, facing the door.

“Stay close, ok, Chorus? We’ll be fine if we stick together.” Shelly said. I could tell she was trying her best to soothe me, even when she was frightened. I felt safe, she felt safe too.

I took a deep breath. My hand found its way onto Shelly’s shoulder.

“Ok. Let’s go.”

The halls were eerily empty. Commotions and cries of help echoed from far away. It was like some pony decided to pull a huge prank just to scare us to death. Except none of this was a joke, if Shelly was right about what she saw. Her quivering breath and jittering hands told me what she saw must have been real.

We skulked along as quickly as we could, hugging the walls and peeking around corners. It didn’t take as long as we had thought to reach the training room. I felt a bit safer knowing we were about to get our hands on a means of defense.

I got lost in my hopes for a second, bumping into Shelly as she stopped at the edge of training room’s open doors. Sounds of struggle and commanding voices carried out from the other side. We both leaned out to see for ourselves.

The training room was anything but empty.

Dozens of mares from our guard unit were being corralled here. I picked out plenty of familiar faces, friends who Shelly and I have had duties, patrols and outings with. Many of them were completely naked, a huge pile of stripped and torn clothing and broken armor clotting one corner of the room. Keeping them captive was a sizeable group of the strangers Shelly described before; an antlered people, brown-furred, tall and muscular. Most had only small patches of armor strapped to them and little else. I’d never seen so many penises in one place before.

With them were stallions, the very same guards which we’d seen and worked with every day, helping to restrain their own friends. I couldn’t believe it, even when I saw it right in front of me. We had lunch with these guys only yesterday. How could they be doing this?!

One by one, the captured mares were tied up in varying ways, each of them receiving some sort of black collar. One of the strangers carried several of the collars on him, clamping them onto each mare with a strange form of magic I had never seen before. Symbols of some kind were etched along the backs of the collars as they snapped into place. The stranger also carried red collars among those that were black, but he didn’t use any of them.

Some of the mares tried to struggle, with little effect. Those that had enough strength to actively resist were brutally beaten. One of the pegasus mares had her wings tied so tightly that they looked like they might snap in half at any moment. A unicorn was so badly pummeled that she couldn’t even muster any magic from her horn. The stallions and the strangers shared laughs as they sifted through the defeated mares like giving out spoils from a battle.

“Make sure we have the whole barracks swept clean. I want all of the weapons found and disposed of.” Commanded one of the strangers, a leader by the looks of him. Some of his subordinates heeded his orders, but none of them were in a rush. Many kept their focus on the captive guards they’d collected thus far.

As the leader went into the storage closet, another stranger chose a mare at random, stuffing something into her mouth and tossing her to the floor. I did everything in my power to hold back a gasp of horror as the stranger grabbed hold of her bound wrists with one huge hand and fitted his erect penis into her without any hesitation. He groaned and uttered some kind of curse in a foreign language as he pushed down on the mare’s back, forcing her rear to ride him further up. She whimpered, squinting her eyes shut in pain.

As the stranger relentlessly plowed into her, the mare’s eyes flew open and caught sight of Shelly and I. She tried to push words through her gag in a desperate attempt to call for help, to ask us to rescue her. Her words were only muffled screams.

Instead of trying to think of some way to save her, I could only reel in fear of possibly being spotted by one of the strangers. Shelly jerked similarly, pushing me to get us back behind the corner and out of sight.

“Shelly, w-we…” my voice trembled, “There has to be a way to help them. R-right?”

Shelly slowly shook her head, her eyes glued to the floor. “I… I don’t think there’s anything we can do for them right now. Even if we had weapons, there’s no way we could hold off that many… We’d end up just like them… We’ll find a way to save them later. Right now, we need to get out of here and get to the sky bridge.”

A part of me refused to believe her. There had to be a way to save them. To somehow beat the odds and free our fellow guards… But I knew that Shelly was right. We would’ve gotten ourselves caught. Running away was the only option… I just hoped they’d forgive us.

We reached one of the back exits of the barracks after fleeing the training room. It was a quick dash to the sky bridge from there. Some luck decided to come our way as we found the bridge to be unobstructed. Bright green and yellow decorations still adorned the bridge in celebration of the Spring Planting Festival. They did little to comfort us.

We stepped onto the bridge and began to cross, only stopping at the peak of its arch to look at the city below.

It was happening everywhere.

Mares were chased down, subdued, and dragged or carried from their homes and through the streets. Stallions of every shape and size were committing acts of horror which I could never have imagined, even in my nightmares. Seizing mares, beating them and violating them in every way they could. All while being helped by the strangers, who spurred them on as they joined in their twisted pleasure.

On our usual river-side patrol routes below, some guards were trying to fight back. A unicorn mare cast a spell towards one of the armor-clad invaders, but it did nothing, the colorful aura dissipating like mist from the chest plate of the stranger. Glowing rods crackling with electricity were brought down upon the royal guards in retaliation. Those hit by the shock-weapons were inflicted with spasms and fell to the ground, convulsing in pain. They were slowly overwhelmed.

I guess this was what it was like to be conquered.

I tried to pull myself away from the terror which engulfed our city, turning my head and squeezing my eyes shut. Shelly tugged at my shoulder, gesturing me to look up.

The sky was a bright and shining hue of pink. A magical barrier had encased the entire city, having wrapped Canterlot within a bubble-like shield. I recognized the spell instantly.

“That’s Captain Shining Armor’s barrier. I didn’t know he was here…”

“I guess we’re lucky then. Maybe there’s still a chance for us to fight.” Shelly remarked.

My worries wouldn’t go away. “But… Something’s still wrong about all of this. Where are the Princesses? Where are the Element bearers? Why haven’t they done anything yet?”

Shelly grew silent. I didn’t think she wanted to even guess what might have happened to the leaders and heroes who she spoke of so highly only a day before.

“I’m… sure they are going to come through for us. They have to. For now, we need to keep moving.”

There was effort behind Shelly’s words. She tried her best to stay hopeful. I did too.

We crossed the sky bridge and entered into the Canterlot Museum’s upper floors. It was deserted, with not a single soul in sight. Whether that was good or bad was something to be discovered as we hurriedly skulked through the narrow halls of the research offices.

I stopped in my tracks as I caught a faint muttering coming from a nearby office door, which belonged to Professor Walnut. I poked Shelly to get her attention and motioned towards the sound. She scanned the hallway and kept a lookout while I wrapped my hand around the doorknob.

I twisted the knob and quickly pushed to make as little sound as possible, but the door thwarted me. I failed to notice that the door was slightly left ajar. My weight nearly caused me to fall as it swung open. It slammed against a bookshelf near its hinges, shaking the texts and relic-like objects resting there. The desk in the center of the office shifted with an audible bump.

Professor Walnut poked out from underneath. He held one hand on the top of his head and a strange sword quivering in the other.

“Ooooowwwwgghh sweet honey iced teeeaaa why did I invooolve myself in that stuudyyy-! Whu- pl-… Moonlight’s graces! The two young guards from yesterday! Shelly and… Chorus, yes? Th-thank heavens you’re safe.” The Professor rattled. He seemed like his normal self, but Shelly and I still kept our distance. I left the door open in case we needed to run.

“Professor Walnut. Are you ok?” Shelly asked cautiously.

Walnut placed his sword on top of his desk and showed his hands to us. “I’m utterly terrified and have been having agonizing migraines since only a few hours ago, which now have been aggrandized from my skull’s impact with my desk. I’m still me, I assure you. But I completely comprehend your caution. For some bizarre reason, nearly all of the stallions in the city are joining these caribou in their occupation…”

“Caribou?” I interrupted, “Is that who they are?”

“Indeed, an antlered race not very well known to us. We’ve not interacted with them for millennia. I’m not surprised you did not know of them.” Said the Professor as he reached up to a nearby shelf to pull down a stack of binders stuffed with notes.

“We can talk about all that once we get some place safe. Can you help us, Professor?” Shelly asked.

Professor Walnut gestured to the sword on his desk as he stuffed as many binders, notes and files into a satchel as he could.
“I was hoping not to subject it to actual combat, but… That sword will be much more viable for our defense in your capable hands. It is a rare gladius, something the museum has been looking to display. Unfortunately, it has undoubtedly seen better days. I do hope you can still wield it effectively. And please, take it as a sign of my utmost and desperate wish for your trust in me.”

Shelly took the old sword and gave it a feel. The edges were dull, and the length was much shorter than most swords used today. Even so, I felt safe with it in Shelly’s hand, even if it did look like it would snap in half the moment it hit something. She was the better swordsmare out of the two of us.

Shelly nodded, “Thank you, Professor Walnut. It’ll do.”

“Superb,” Said the Professor, “Now, as for our place of refuge. The city exits have been blockaded by the aggressors. My home is not too far from here. It is a short whiles towards the markets. It’s not very noticeable to the outsiders, so I believe it will be the best place for us to seek shelter would be there. We can chart a course using the east-side alleyways. I’ll lead the way.”

The Professor slung his satchel bag full of belongings over his shoulder, finding some trouble from the books and papers already in his hands. Shelly spoke up, asking something about staying stealthy while on the move, and that perhaps she should take the lead since she had our only weapon. I found myself staring at Professor Walnut as he replied in earnest. His eyes darted wildly and his breath was short. Uncertainty reflected in his posture, his expression and his words. His fear was the same as our own. That was enough for us to trust him. Whatever plan was made between the stallions of Canterlot and these caribou, the Professor never got the memo.

“Ok. It’s better than nothing. Ready to go, Chorus?” Asked Shelly as she turned to me.

I glanced up with a jolt. My eyes met hers.

“Ready.”

The three of us picked up a jog to the stairwell. Professor Walnut with all his studies, Shelly with the blunt sword, and myself with… well, nothing. It wasn’t long before we made it down to the new exhibit hall, dashing past all of the displays. The museum was completely overturned. Ponies ran inside desperately seeking a place to hide, with the invaders close behind, uprooting and smashing everything in their sights to catch them. It was such a storm of destruction that somehow we went unnoticed on our way to a side exit.

Professor Walnut stopped in his tracks, glancing over to the display case of the Prodigy’s Cane. It was still there, untouched and pristine, just waiting to be destroyed with everything else. Shelly quickly grabbed hold of Walnut’s shoulder, stealing a glimpse at the cane as well.

“Leave it, Professor!” Shelly urged. She managed to tear away the Professor and resume our course.

I glanced back at the chaos as we left, noticing a caribou approach the case. He smashed it with a fist, and took the cane as his own.

The storm of cries and carnage faded as we delved into the city alleyways. The invasion was spreading. Every time we turned a corner or dashed across the open to another alley, we were a step ahead of the deluge of forces sweeping through the streets. But it was all too easy to be reminded that Canterlot was infested with these caribou and their allies at every turn.

One alleyway finally gave us some respite. The walls flanking us were tall and encapsulating. A thick stench of something left over from unattended sewage ravaged our snouts, but the shelter the alley provided helped us to overcome the smell.

As our tired feet slowed down to a quiet pace, Shelly broke the silence.

“Have you seen Fin, Professor?”

Professor Walnut kept his body forward, still navigating the stones beneath him. It took him a few seconds to respond.

“I’m a-afraid I’m not sure where he is… I hadn’t heard from him today, not a hint. My apologies, I… I’m sure he’s safe and sound. He’s a smart one, that one.”

The Professor’s words were strained. He was trying his best to remain positive, or at least coherent. Shelly let the silence settle back in.

Though she tried her best to hide it, Shelly shifted uncomfortably as we went, wracked with worry. I tried to imagine what it would be like if Mom or Dad were here, somewhere, lost in this city. I couldn’t stomach those thoughts.

We jumped into another alley. An intersection lied ahead, branching paths hidden behind corners.

Within my wandering thoughts, I started to entertain the possibility of just escaping from the city itself. After all, shield spell’s like Commander Shining Armor’s had to be tailored to bar entry to a specific magic or entity, like it had been during the changeling threat. That had to be the reason why it was up, to prevent any more caribou from coming in from any entrance to the city. If we could find a clear exit, we would be able to just walk right through-

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A pair of heavy hands belonging to a gruff voice grabbed hold of my waist. They swung me around effortlessly, flinging me back towards the way we came. I counted on my arm and shoulder to absorb my impact as I hit the ground. The cobblestones felt more painful than they appeared, but that wasn’t the reason why I flinched.

A caribou had found us. He had his sights set on me, so much so that I swear I could feel his eyes cutting right through any defenses I could even think of mustering.

Before the lumbering caribou could once again grab me, a coarse slash of steel echoed against the walls from behind. He reeled in pain, stepping to the side to reveal Shelly, who had brought the old short sword in a sweeping arc across his back. Blood was drawn, but that didn’t seem to faze the caribou in the slightest.

The caribou loudly cursed and unhooked a weapon from his waist; a long steel rod, which spewed little bouts of electricity.

“Watch out!” I warned. Shelly already had her eyes on the shock baton, bringing her short sword into a defensive stance.

With a massive swing, the caribou slammed his shock baton into Shelly’s sword. The impact forced her to step back. She winced as her sword almost buckled.

The caribou swung again and again, though Shelly weaved in between each strike. She tried to go for a slice at his arm, but she couldn’t get close enough. I could tell she wasn’t happy with the sword’s lack of reach.

Everything was happening so quickly. I snapped myself out of my frozen state and tried to find a way to help. There was hardly anything in this alley. An empty trashcan was the only object I could notice. If a sword did so little damage, then a trash can would be like giving him a backrub.

My eyes whisked back to the fight. Shelly had made a daring move and lunged forward, managing to land a blow on the caribou’s knee.

The caribou only grunted. He swung his shock baton right into Shelly’s shoulder. The blunt sword flew from her hand as she gripped her arm, jolting to the ground. She yelled through her gritted teeth.

My legs sprang into action before I could think. With as much power as I could muster in the short distance, I crashed myself into the caribou’s waist, taking both of us to the ground. The shock baton slid away as I fell unto his back.

Immediately I found myself flung back to the stone beneath us. The caribou’s attention redirected to me, though not for long.

THWACK

Shelly stood above the now still caribou, holding the shock baton in hand. She let it drop to the ground.

“Are-Are you two uninjured?” Professor Walnut asked, peering from his hiding place behind a nearby archway.

Shelly winced as she touched her shoulder. A hole in her shirt and a patch of singed fur marked her wound.

“Shelly-”

“I’m fine.” She said. She scooped the blunt sword in one hand and my own hand in the other to help me to my feet. I felt her hand tremble before she pulled away.

“C’mon… We’ve got to get moving. Lead the way, Professor.”

Our lungs were heaving by the time we finished running. Professor Walnut’s home was in front of us. The tiny house stood near the edge of a complex of similar houses, all connected under the same white stone frame.

The sky above us brightened. Commander Shining Armor’s bubble shield receded, dissolving into nothing but glimmering specks slowly drifting through the air. We had to hide, and quickly.

Professor Walnut shared our sense of urgency and clamored up the small flight of steps, hastily digging into his pockets for his key. He shoved it into the lock and opened the front door.

“Come, my friends! I’ll show you where you can stay.” He said, already bursting past the door.

I jumped up the stairs and stepped foot into the tucked away home. A strange musk filled into my nose, reminding me of a basement full of family photographs collecting dust. The foyer was adorned with antique furniture extending into what looked like a living room. A small plant on one of the tables was shedding its leaves.

“We made it, Shelly. Looks like we’ll… Shelly?”

The door was still open behind me. I stepped back outside.

Shelly stood at the bottom of the steps, staring up at me.

“Shelly, come on! They could find us!”

She didn’t say anything. All she did was give me a heartbroken stare.

“…I have to go find my brother. I can’t leave him.”

I didn’t know what to say in that moment. All I wanted to do was grab Shelly and bring her inside, to keep her safe.

But I couldn’t do that. Fin was still out there somewhere. And I knew Shelly wouldn’t stop looking out for him, even in a time like this. If it were my brother, I would’ve done the same.

“I’ll be back as soon as I find him… I promise you I’ll be back.”

“I’ll go with you.” I stammered as I leapt down the steps to her.

“No. I won’t risk losing you along the way. I can find Fin and bring him back easier on my own. You know me. You need to trust me on this.”

Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t move or think. I just stood there, staring at Shelly’s teal eyes as she looked back into mine.

Something took hold of me. An urge of nothing but instinct.

I stepped forward and kissed Shelly. Her body tensed, but soon relaxed as her arms pulled me closer.
For what felt like an eternity lasted only a second. Our lips parted.

“Y-you better come back.”

“I promise, Chorus… To the best of mares, and the closest of ponies, until the end.” Shelly said. She spoke the very same words she said to me the day we signed up for the royal guard.

I nodded.

“… Until the end.”

Shelly pulled away, and with short sword in hand, disappeared back into the alleys…