This is War

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: The Game Begins
Chapter 2: Home Yet Not
Chapter 3: Into the Shadows

Prologue

It had been three months since that memorable night when princess Twilight Sparkle had defeated the mighty Tirek, and the country was peaceful. After many, many months of hard labor and a fair bit of magic, Equestria finally finished repairing the damage that was caused by the battle. The three pony races started to move on from the pain of losing their magic, and the knowledge that their home was almost stolen from them. As life slowly returned to normal, Princess Twilight was finally getting a chance to relax, until the mischievous Lord of Chaos appeared at her side…

Discord thought hard, trying his best to decide on a proper description for his current mood. Unamused? No that was too much. Frustrated? That sounded strange. The simple truth is, he was bored; extremely, and utterly bored. He was glad that all of Equestria had forgiven him—well, most of them at least—and recently, he’d been enjoying his new found friendships.

However, under Celestia's orders, he wasn’t allowed to use his powers to help the ponies with the repairs. He had been upset at hearing that, having hoped that if he offered his services, maybe the remaining few would be more likely to forgive him. By their reasoning, the chaos magic he welded was far too unpredictable, and would likely cause more harm than good. He had sulked off after accepting that fact, seeking some form of entertainment. The most entertainment he found these days came from pulling pranks with Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, or the odd crusade with the CMC.

"But that just isn't enough anymore!" Discord exclaimed. "That’s why I'm personally inviting you all to my wonderful home and we’ll play this wonderful board game that I myself have created." He snapped his fingers, a strange old gray box appearing, suspended in midair beside him.

Twilight studied the box carefully, every detail of it under her scrutiny. She took note of the slightly worn edges and the mismatched patterns along the front. This was a 'Game of Chaos' no doubt. And, by the looks of it, it had been played a few times before. Discord gave a dramatic sigh, pulling a pocket watch from thin air and tapping his foot impatiently. After several minutes of studying the game, Twilight turned towards him. "Alright Discord."

Discord fell to his knees giving the largest puppy eyes he could, the sound of a sad violin playing from nowhere. "Oh, Pllleeeeeaasse!” he begged. "It’s been forever since we’ve..." The music stopped with a crash, he blinked twice as he thought about Twilight’s words. "Wait, what?" he asked, surprised.

Twilight gave him a friendly smile, and before Discord could reply, said, "I needed a break from all the work that’s been going on. Besides we're friends, right? What’s the worst that could happen?"

Discord, jaw still hanging, stared at her. Then he frowned as if disappointed. "Oh phooey! And I spent all of that time putting that sad speech together too,” he said in a mock pout.

Twilight giggled; she found herself doing that a lot since their friendship had blossomed. "I'm just going to plan a date with my friends, then let them know what’s going on. Why should any of them miss out on the fun?” She turned and levitated the nearest calendar, Discord suddenly popped in front of her in a mailman's uniform, startling her. She thought she would be used to his antics by this point.

"No need dear princess, I have already sent out the invitations." As he spoke, six mini Discords out of the bag and through the window, each one carrying a small envelope in its mouth. Twilight watched as they vanished off into the distance before turning her attention back to Discord.

Discord then grabbed Twilight's calendar, a marker in claw. "I've already booked you for a day's off for next week," he said as he returned the calendar to its owner with a date circled in red ink.

After looking at the date, Twilight turned to Discord eyebrow raised. "I’m sure I had a meeting scheduled for then with the Canterlot nobles. How did you manage to re-schedule that?" Twilight asked curiously. Then, rolling her eyes with a slight chuckle, she added, "Not that I was looking forward to it..."

Discord shot her a devious grin. "Do you really want to know?” he asked as a cream pie popped into existence.

Twilight looked blankly at the pie floating above her. “On second thought, I think I can guess." She giggled lightly before breaking out into a big yawn. Looking through the window she could see the sun slowly setting below the horizon. "Sweet Celestia! Luna is already raising the moon. I’ve got to get some sleep so I can stay focused in the tax meeting tomorrow with the mayor." Before she started to walk off, she returned her gaze to the draconequus, "Good night, Discord."

He waved while popping into his blue with pink cotton candy clouds pajamas "Good night, Twilight." Then he walked to the window, opened it like a door, jumped on a cotton candy cloud, and laid on it as the cloud floated away into the night sky.

Twilight walked to her bedroom where Spike was sleeping soundly. She glanced at her reading desk and saw an envelope on it. Spike must have gotten an invite too, she thought as she crawled into her bed. wondering about what she had gotten her and her friends into with Discord’s antics.

Discord looked up at the night sky, planning. However unlike previously, this planning had no malicious or evil intent behind it. Ugh, how am I supposed to tell them?! He gave a long yawn, settling deeper into the snugness of the cloud. Never mind, I need to get some sleep, got a boat load of pranks to pull tomorrow... He gave a small smile. I can deal with it all… tomorrow. He turned on his side, sinking deeper into the cotton candy, and allowing the darkness to lull him to sleep.

Chapter 1: The Game Begins

On the day that she was invited to a party by a strange bird that had similar colorization as Discord, Fluttershy was excited of the thought. She and her friends were going to visit Discord for a change and not the other way around. Now a week has passed and she was one of the first to arrive at their castle throne room beaten only by Rainbow Dash who was also looking forward to the party.

"Did you saw the look on their faces when Discord and I made it rain chocolate milk on top of the Crusaders?" Dash asked as she then burst out laughing on her throne. "It was priceless!" She said while trying to calm down, and was failing.

"Yes I did, and though I thought it was funny, I think that you used a little too much milk on them," Fluttershy said being as polite as possible, "if you don't mind me saying" she quickly finished.

Before Dash could say anything a new voice joined in, "What I saw was my little Sweetie Bell using her magic to disburse your candy cloud and, for lack for a better term, stuffed it on your face." Both Pegasi turned to see a white unicorn named Rarity with a proud smile on her lips. The sharp eyes of the fashion designer landed on the rainbow-colored mane of Rainbow Dash, and they flashed wide open. "DARLING," Rarity gasped, “Your mane STILL has that foul cotton candy in it!"

"Huh?" Rainbow placed a hoof in her mane and sure enough there was some cotton candy almost hidden from view, now able to be seen by all three ponies "Well, would you look at that, I thought I got rid of this stuff yesterday." Rainbow said flashing back to the day of the prank.

"Allow me." Rarity said as her magic wraps around Dash's mane. Before Rainbow Dash could protest, the unicorn swiftly yanks the pegasus's mane and was successful in getting all of the candy out and gathered it all in a small floating ball, but at the cost of a few pieces of rainbow color hair.

"OUCH!" Rainbow yelled as she inspects her hair to see if she was going to be partly bald. Thankful she was wrong, she then faced the one who done the deed "Hey, that really hurt." She complained.

Rarity didn't flinched "My apologies dear, but sometimes style must come before comfort. And besides your mane needed a small trim." Saying so in a calm confident tune in her words.

Fluttershy inspected the recent "injury" "Are you ok Rainbow?" she looked at her childhood friend like the best flyer in all of Equestria nearly had a crash landing.

"Pfft; that was nothing compared to all the crashes I had while I was training for the Wonderbolts." in her usual confident tune trying to comfort the timid mare. It has been two weeks since the former Waoderbolt star student made the difficult choice of refusing to be a full Wonderbolt to everypony's surprise, Rainbow Dash had said that she wanted to be closer to Twilight, the attack from Tirek has made the young Pegasi feel regretfully weak so Dash wanted to be her friend's first personal guard. The Wonderbolt's captain, Spitfire, was understanding and let Dash know that the spot will always be open if she changed her mind. Now under the personal training from Prince Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash is becoming an "excitable" guard, as her mentor put it. She was silent during meetings and always kept at Princess Twilight's side, however when not on duty she's goes back to the pony everypony loves, doing tricks and finding time to still be Ponyville's best Weather Pegasus.

Rainbow shook her head after the flash back and looked back at Rarity "A little warning next time wouldn't hurt though." but the mare in question wasn't paying attention anymore.

Rarity was staring at something new in the room, at first with a face of confusion then a roll of the eyes that yelled of course all over it. Once Rainbow and Fluttershy turned to see what the white unicorn was surprised at, Rarity already answered before their eyes pointed on a pink pony next to a trash can, "Pinkie Pie, I would appreciate it if you could ask me before you take trash from me."

The party pony turned to Rarity. "Oh sorry, but when I saw that icky stuff that you pulled out of Dashie's hair I was like, 'she may want help with that' so I went up and went ahead and took the icky stuff and put it in the trash where it should go." The pink pony gasped for air sense she was talking so quickly.

Pinkie then dug into her puffy mane and pulled out a small cannon, as small as her head was big anyway, and happily pointed the gun at the round table in the center of the throne room "I just can't wait for the first ever Discord's House Sleepover Party!" As Pinkie yelled those words she fired the cannon, but instead of a cannon ball it shot out streamers and balloons and the target was decorated instantly from a wooden table to a table you would see in a birthday parties and a plate was on top that looked like you can place a cake.

Fluttershy squeaked in surprised as Pinkie Pie ran past her at speeds that rival Rainbow Dash to finish the preparations of the party. Multiple color banners started to hang on the walls and the six, and a half, thrones are now beneath a cluster of balloons. By the time the party pony stopped to look at her master piece the entire room was covered in party decorations. At the top of the room was a large banner that said 'Welcome to the Discord Sleep over Party'.

"As fast as ever on getting the party started, eh Pinkie?" Rainbow Dash complimented.

"Yup, I just can't wait to see Discord again. He's a lot of fun." Pinkie grinned, bouncing in excitement.

The big doubled doors slightly opened, all four ponies turned to see a small purple dragon with green spines enter the room. "Good evening ladies." Spike said as a butler would, as the first and number one assistant to a princess he feels that he needs to illuminate an aura that is similar to the most trusted advisor in Celestia's Rural Court. "Twilight will be here in a moment, she's just needs to...." Spike looked around at the decorated throne room, surprised he looked at the culprit, "Pinkie, you do know that we going to Discord's place to have the party right?"

Pinkie rolled her eyes, not in annoyance but just to show how obvious the answer was. "Well duh, I would take my party cannon over there for the party, but I have no idea on where his house is." The party pony eyed the small dragon in deep thought before saying "You wouldn't happen to know where it is would you?"

"Um, no, of course I don't know where he lives."

"Okie doikie Lokie." Pinkie bounced away to continue setting up the party.

Spike walked to the others, quite closer to Rarity. "Still the room looks great, this place needs a new look every now and then."

Rarity gasped, panic running all over her makeup covered face, “Oh no, no, nonononono!" She started to gallop to the doors.

She was only halfway there, when Rainbow flew in front of the fleeing unicorn, "Whoa there, what's wrong Rarity?" Rarity looked around to see her friends giving the same look of confusion as Rainbow was.

The white unicorn needed a second to calm down, she then returned to her lady like position. "My apologies for my behavior, it just that my saddlebag is just inside the front doors and is in possession of an item that I only use on occasions such as this."

"Do ya mean this here saddlebag?" Said bag flew over Rainbow's head and landed beside Rarity, they all again looked over to see an orange earth pony in her cowboy hat. "Sorry ah'm late everypony, needed ta making shore that Big Mac can handle all of the chores wile ah was away."

"Oh, thank you Applejack. And that's fine, as long that we all got here without a hitch." Rarity opened her saddlebag and levitated a gold necklace with a large heart shape rube at its center.

As the others looked in awe, Spike blinked in surprise for he recognized the necklace. “Isn’t that the ruby that I gave you?"

"Why yes it is, my Spiky Wiky, I thought of bringing my best dress over for this wondrous action, however this is Discord we're going to visit and I feel I needed to bring something that can be easy to clean, just in case, yet still look simply divine." Rarity looked at Spike with a thankful smile, the little Dragon turned red.

"Good idea." Another voice entered the room from a smaller door a few feet to the left of the main room double doors, everypony turned to see the missing friend they've been waiting for. "Discord still hasn't learned how to not get our clothes wet with chocolate." A purple Alicorn princess walked out of the door, a calm and gentle smile on her face.

"Oh Twilight, it is so good to see you again." Fluttershy trotted up to her friend.

"Good, the gang's all here." Rainbow flew up from her throne and crossed her hooves impatiently. "Now all we need to do is wait for our host and we can start the show."

Twilight flew up to meet the same height as Rainbow, it's been a while since she last used her wings. "You know Rainbow; if you’re going to be my personal guard you have to be patient for a lot of things other than a few meetings." She said as her smile turned into a knowing smirk.

Rainbow knows she couldn't win this argument, so she changes the subject. "Hey Fluttershy, how're the zoo animals doing?" A month ago a zoo in Canterlot had some problems with the artificial habitats and needed a home until the repairs are complete. Fluttershy was quick to respond to the request.

"Oh, they're doing very well; I'm told that in two days the zoo animals will have a nice new home to live in." Fluttershy gave a cute small exited smile.

"Well," Rarity interrupted "if we're going to discuss about our daily progress, then I simply have to say that I've made the largest sale this year!" Her eyes seemed to twinkle as she made this fact. "Fancypants, has agreed to buy over half of all of my dresses, and if that's not enough he also hired a pair of fellow designers to help me make more dresses and give a steady flow of sales to the shops he owns, this is also the only reason that I was able to attend to this party."

Applejack eyed the white unicorn with a small hint of pride. "Well ah'll be a monkey's mare, that is some mighty news to hear. Congratulations, Rarity."

"Thank you again Applejack, but you must tell us how the farm is doing."

"Not much ta tell, we've gotten three new acres of land for our orchard, other than that, it's been as normal as it comes."

Before Rarity could reply Pinkie landed from Celestia knows where and between the two business ponies with a sugar overdosed smile. "Oh! Oh!, My tuuuurrrn~" she announced in a sing along tune. "Well the Cakes have been super-duper nice to me and gave me permission throw a birthday party for the twins in Sugar Cube Corner, which is in a month from now, and I've even invited my super-duper, other than the Apple Family, family and I can't wait 'til they get here. Well I can wait it’s just an expression." she said in her usual quick and very excited tune.

The others just barley understood what she was saying, then Applejack quickly stopped the silence. "You mean the Pie families, who may be ma distant relatives, are comin' hear for a birthday party of the Cake's twins? Well shoot, that's also some great news cousin." Pinkie gave another happy grin.

Twilight flouted back down to join the conversation. "Well as for me nothing in particular happened as of yet, Dash however is coming out of her training with my brother very well, as long she learns to 'wear Rural Guard armor with pride'," the Princess said in a mockingly, she then turned to her guard "Personally I don't really care if you wear it or not as long as you do your duty."

Rainbow looked at her friend with a thankful glance mixed with a bit of pride. "Thanks Twi, it's just that armor is far too heavy for me to fly properly, I get that I need to train in it to get used to the weight, but it still would slow me down too much for my liking." She soon landed next to her personal throne.

Spike walked next to Twilight and entered his circle of friends "Well, same here, ever cense Twilight made the castle a library for Ponyville, everything is still the usual book organizing."

"Well, that sounds rather boring, don't you agree?" The six ponies flip their heads left and right to try to find the familiar voice that echoed though the room.

Then to everypony's shock, the illumination Crystals went out only allowing six spotlights on each of the main six. "That's right my little ponies..." The voice said in an announcer accent, and then the lights started to spin slowly and moved closer to one another. "He's tall..." A figure started to appear in the darkest part of the ever smaller circle of lights. "He's multiple parted..." The lights started to spin faster and the figure became easier to see. "HHeeee'ss- "

"DISCORD!" The five ponies rolled their eyes in annoyance; Pinkie sounded more like she's more excited than anything, in unison, the lights went back to normal to reveal the Lord of Chaos on top of the party table.

"That's right." Discord added in a friendly smile, "I just came over to see why you weren't at my home yet."

Twilight was about to answer when Fluttershy stepped in. "That is because, if you don't mind me saying..."

"Of course not dear." Discord rudely interrupted getting a stare from both Applejack and Rarity.

"We don't know where you live." Fluttershy said as if she wasn't interrupted. "That is why Twilight told us to come to the castle first, to wait for you."

"Ooooohh, oops." Discord shrugged. "I forgot to mention that I added a small pocket dimension to the castle to act as my room, sorry it slipped my mind." he said with eyes of a straight face but a innocent smile with the ponies, after befriending him, they soon learned that he is a hundred percent truthful.

Twilight took a brief but deep breath "Ok, Discord, how do we get to your home then?"

"Easy." The Draconequus sounded like it truly is that simple to find a pocket dimension. He walked over to another small door to the right of the large double doors.

Applejack couldn't help but point out, "That's the closet." To prove it she walked over to the door and opened it to reveal a very small room with a mop and bucket the clearest to see.

Discord nearly laughed at this, "Ye of little faith." He carefully moved the orange mare out of the way, "True, it is a closet but when you say the magic words." He closed the door then he throw up his arms and chanted, "Open," pause for dramatic effect, "Sesame Street." Nothing happened.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow "Aannnd?" again she is feeling impatient.

Discord opened the door only this time the room was replaced with another door, this one being made by rubber. Placing his paw and talons underneath the door he lifted upwards with a bright blue light coming through it. "Well?" Discord challenged.

Pinkie, being Pinkie, zoomed into the light. The others walked more calmly after adjusting to the light, what they found what looked like a normal house, other than the fact the floor was a giant pillow, the fire in the fireplace was upside down, the furniture is cotton candy, and everything you'd expected from the home of the lord of chaos.

"Alright everypony, if you’re done sight seeing, lets began my first sleep over!" Discord said excitedly.

"YEAH!" And thus the fun begins, with Discord's favorite song in the background Rarity and Spike played Pin the Tail on the Pony, Rainbow Dash and Applejack found themselves in Tug-of-War, while Discord and Pinkie Pie where in a head to head match on who can shoot there party cannon better, all the while Twilight and Fluttershy simply watched from the background.

After the side games were done, Discord clapped his hands for silence. All eyes were on him now, "Ok everypony I got one more game before we take a nap, is that ok with all of you?" Most of the ponies nodded, Applejack, however yawned as she wasn't used to being up this late, then nodded, one more game can't hurt she thought.

"Extent!" Discord gave a grateful smile. "This is the game, I made it myself.", a cardboard box appeared with the title 'Game of Chaos' on it.

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the game that you showed me last week?"

"Indeed it is, princess." Discord confirmed.

"Do you know how to play Twilight?" Spike questioned.

"No, I don't."

"That's no issue at all," Discord said, "It practically tells you how to play." He then opened the box and unfolded the board which had the entire map of Equestria, but strangely was cut in half virtually; on the right, it looked normal if a little yellow, the other was also clear but in dark blue.

"Oookaay, why dose Equestria look likes that?" Rainbow asked the same question everypony was thinking.

"All will be explained in do time." Discord pulled out a single card from the box. "To start the game read this Enter Card."

Twilight levitated the card and her friends gathered around to lessen to her.

When day and night refuse to kneel, a new kind of chaos is born that no lord can wield, two greats leave behind a legacy of treachery and tyranny, into this place your eyes will find home but your heart shall not. As a misguided soul that I was I request that the six hero to accept this quest, to heal a wound that no magic can. Should you agree to play, I can only wish for luck to be on your side.

They all shared confused looks, Pinkie Pie included. Applejack turned her gaze to the Lord of Chaos obviously wanted answers, "What in the hay is that supposed ta mean" she demanded.

Discord only looked at his friends nervously, seemingly unsure how to respond. "I need you to say yes," he said uncharacteristically sad tune in his voice, this gave him worried looks in return. "I need your help with a problem that I can’t fix." he continued to look at them pleadingly.

Fluttershy flew up to her strange friend. "Discord, what is wrong?” she asked as she reached Discord's paw and talon.

The Draconequus looked at his first friend with a faint smile, then to the rest of them he said "As I said before all will be explained, but first I need you all to play this game with me, please?" he looked long and hard at the eyes of his new friends with hope.

Twilight gave up the face of concern to adopt a small simple, yet caring, smile. "Discord," the princess started as she walked closer to Discord, "we've been friends ever since you gave me Tirek's necklace, and we've all forgiven you for every mistake you have made. I will help you as any friend would," she turned to her friends "right girls?" Without hesitation, all of the ponies, and dragon, nodded eagerly, her smile widened with pride. She retuned her gaze to Discord "We accept to play the game."

Discord retuned the smile to all of the ponies, only his eyes seemed to only sadden. He closed those eyes and rubbed one with his paw, as he said "Thank you." Once he was done drying his eye, he prepared his talon for another snap "I just hope you can forgive me one last time." he said, snapping his talons.

Pinkie's ears started to flop and run in circles at the same time, her mane wiggled like gelatin, and her tail started to shake as if it had an earthquake all at the same time.

In panic Pinkie screamed "TWICHY TAIL!"

As if on cue, a large tornado came into the room, and within seconds sucked most of the panicking ponies as well as Spike in the middle of the room, all of them where inside in the tornado spinning and spinning, faster and faster, screaming in terror. Twilight was hanging on for dear life on the pillow floor, but lost her grip and was sent flying into the tornado, the last thing Discord heard was Twilight screaming, "Dissssscccccoooooorrrrrrrrd!" The tornado, as quickly as it came, disappeared into the bored game, leaving the Draconequus alone. He stood there conflicted, as he shed a single tear.

"I'm sorry." he whispered to himself, hopeful that his friends could hear him. Then and there, all he wanted to is to fall on his knees and cry, as he remembered the look of panic that Twilight gave him. Knowing that where she was going, will be where her worsted fears are realized.

Chapter 2: Home Yet Not

Pain, that was the first thing that Twilight felt as she struggled to regain conciseness. it hurts! she wanted to say but all that came out of her mouth was a painful moan. Her wings felt like they had been chewed by crocodiles, her left foreleg may be broken; sharp pains wrap around her body, and her head rings like a hammer landed on her horn. She needs to open her eyes, she needs to see her surroundings, but the pain is just too much.

All Twilight wanted at that moment was to go back to rest. Her body was all too glad to agree as she felt herself getting tired. No...Need to open my eyes...Need to find, friends, she pointed out to herself, but her determination was outmatched by pure exhaustion. Then came a voice, a voice that her pain filled ears didn't allow her to recognize, nor could she tell the tune of the voice, Twilight could only hear the words.

"This cannot be, is that an Alicorn that I see."

Everything went blank as Twilight finally fell back into sleep's embrace.

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes as she slowly stood up, What the hay happened? She looked at her surroundings. Oak trees covered most of her view. The thick layers of leaves are letting in very little light, although she was able to see the sun setting through a small clearing overhead. This wasn't the Everfree Forest, but it was still creepy.

Dash then felt a small jolt of pain on her side, she turned to her left wing to see if it was broken. Luckily it was only bruised; she can still fly with it. After all, she had worse injuries during her training for the Wanderbolts. With no other injuries she decided to look out into the wilderness again to try to see if anything was familiar, but before the pegasus even looked beyond the first tree, she heard a bush rustle.

Turning to her right, Rainbow instinctively got on all four of her hooves and positioned herself in a battle stance that was drilled in her head. Her back legs ready to jump either towards or away from the potential threat, her right foreleg hanging in the air ready an uppercut if needed, and her left leg is stiff for balance but slightly crouched encase she needs to doge to the right to avoid an attack.

The bush continued to shake, the rustling continued to get louder. What is it? Rainbow nervously asked herself. It seems to be alone, and it was too small to be a mantacore; so its ether a lone timberwolf, or a cockatrice. She shuddered of the possibility of facing anything that could eat her or simply turn her to stone, but then a small ray of hope entered her mind as she thought of another possibility, maybe its another pony.

"H-Hello, anypony there?" Rainbow said to the sound in the bushes.

As the rustling quickened a second sound came from the bushes. "Ow, Rainbow? Is, ow, is that you?" Said the sound of a very familiar posh voice. Then out of the bushes came a white unicorn mare with a purple mane and three demands for a cutie mark, her entire body covered with sticks, leaves, dirt, and some tree sap.

"Rarity!" Rainbow shouted with joy as she ran up to her friend. "Mare, am I glad to see you!"

"And I'm glad to see you to, Rainbow Dash." Rarity happily replied, almost being tackled by Rainbow. The two gave a small, yet firm, hug as if they haven't seen each other for years.

Rarity let go of Rainbow to continue the conversation. "After waking up in a bramble bush, and practically digging though all of those filthy branches, I'm delighted to be in a clearing at last, and with a friendly face no less.", she said as if it was a bad dream.

"Yeah," Rainbow said as she then stared up to the ceiling of leaves thoughtfully, which concerned the white unicorn. Rainbow Dash isn't one to think too hard unless the situation called for it. Rainbow then started to look around the forest carefully, and Rarity did the same. The forest was getting darker by the minute as the sun was still setting, many stars are already in the sky and a full moon came from the corner of the clearing.

The cyan-blue pegasus decided to bring up a question that has been bugging her since she woke up. "Hey Rarity, you wouldn't happen to know where we are, do you?"

"I'm sorry darling, I don't." Rarity answered, her eyes looking grave.

This gave Rainbow's face a ping of disappointment, then her eyes widened as a thought entered her mind, she smiled childishly. "You know what this means don't you?", she smirked.

"That we are hopelessly lost with my mane and coat in ruins and our friends nowhere in sight?" The fashionista said, clearly confused. "I'm having trouble understanding why you think in this particular situation has anything positive at the moment."

The smile only grew on Rainbow's face, "We are in the middle of a mysterious forest with no supplies and no help. So we need to use our own skills and wit for, possibly, our own survival." Her eyes were sparkling at this point as Rarity started getting the idea, "This is just like the beginning of one of Daring Do's adventures!" She squealed as her inner fan girl appeared for a second before returning her attention to her friend, who was rolling her eyes.

"Oh, Rainbow Dash." Rarity sighed, it took all her strength not to facehoof herself.

"Ok," Rainbow said after a second of calming down from her excitement, "in all seriousness, we first need to-"

"MOVE IT SCUMBAG!"

Both ponies flinched at the sudden and hostile new voice from the opposite direction from where Rarity first appeared. They then turned to each other both a bit frightened, Rainbow moved her right hoof and tapped it on her mouth requesting silence, Rarity was all to eager to nod in agreement. Rainbow then jerked her head in the diration of the voice and started crawling into the bushes, the white unicorn fallowed coping her movements as accurately as possible trying not to make any noise.

Rarity's teeth grinned in frustration as more of her fur and mane became worse than they have before, then opened her mouth as if she was about to cry in pain as a thorn found it's way into her shoulder but keep quiet, she knew it wasn't worth getting discovered for. As they got closer, they soon heard muttering, which sounded like somepony is complaining, then hoof steps could be heard. The muttering became more like voices as they neared their destination, one tired yet commanding male voice was heard, "All right Windy, we'll stop here."

"Yes!" A younger male shouted though the bushes, "My hooves were killing me." As he said this Rainbow Dash and Rarity found a break in the think bushes, much to Rarity's relief. However, the rainbow mane pegasus was still cautious trying not to be seen.

The two can see six ponies, five of them being in Royal Guard armor and surrounding a single pony in a black hood and cloth. However, there was something strange about the armor the guards wore, Rainbow noticed that the armor looked like it was made of silver instead of the standard gold in the moonlight.

Three of them had some kind of cloth that could be seen underneath the armor as well as a hood that covered there heads. she also found crossbows laid on their backs supported by strange arm-like metal bars on their left sides, and the bolts on their right side for easy reach.

Rainbow switched her gaze at another pony, the earth pony seemed to have the thickest armor with the plating covering the entire body, the only thing that she could tell that it was alive was the green eyes, light grey mouth, and ears poking though the helmet. On his right side was a large sword hanging on a belt, on his left he had a small shield that was tight around the elbow of his foreleg.

The last guard was a unicorn with his horn showing though his helmet. Wile his armor wasn't as thick as the sword stallion, as there are gaps between the plating, the experienced look in his sea blue eyes were demanding respect. He also had a sword on his side, though it was smaller than the other pony's, but just barely. All the guards were carrying saddlebags and started to unpack what looked like tent cloth.

Rarity turned to Dash with a questioning look in her eyes. "Rainbow, your training in the guard, have you seen that kind of armor before?" she whispered.

Dash only returned the same face to replay, "No, never, there completely new to me." She looked at the guards again. "There weapons are strange too, the prince said that we've rarely ever needed a crossbow, only in emergencies like a hoofed robbery, and I've only heard of swords used by griffons since ponies never needed them any more after thousand years of peace."

Rarity was slightly taken at back by her friend's knowledge, but then she reasoned that it is necessary in order to join the guard. The unicorn nodded, and they both went back to study the strangers, who are in the middle of setting up there camp with surprising speed. Two of the crossbow ponies, both Earth ponies, are standing guard looking for danger, wile the rest finished setting up three tents.

Within two minutes all three are set up and a small fire was burning in the middle. The unicorn walked up to his stallions, "Well done, now since Windy is the one to suggest we rest," he turned to a crossbow tan Pegasus "you'll be on first watch, is that understood?"

Rainbow half expected 'Windy' to protest, but instead he saluted and responded with, "Yes sir." before walking to the edge of the camp and just stood there wile the rest of the guard started to enter the tents. Until the armored stallion stopped in front of his tent and looked at the black cloaked pony, who was between two of the tents, with some sort of resentment.

Then he started to walk towards the figure, a smile on his face. Rainbow watched, unsettled by the situation.something bad is going to happen, I know it, she thought. As the stallion got closer she started to get eager to tackle him to stop whatever he was going to do. "Halt!", both Rainbow and Rarity nearly jumped when they heard the yell, they looked slightly to the left behind the armored pony. The unicorn was just staring at the scene, disapproval all over his visible face.

The armored pony just simply stopped, and turned to his leader, his face expressionless. The unicorn walked up to him until he was almost able to touch the earth pony's face. "We already discussed this, Thunder, she needs to be able to walk in order for her to get to the fort to face her trial." Rainbow raised an eyebrow at the word, Fort? The equestrian guard never needed a fort unless for training, and definitely not for holding prisoners.. She decided to just continue watching, the argument already is attracting attention from the other guards.

"Lieutenant Steel," 'Thunder' said, showing no resentment, "with all due respect sir. I request that I may continue in 'treating' this trader."

'Lieutenant Steel' only continued to stare down at the pony coldly before giving his answer, "No. Why? Because we, a simple portal of five, got lucky to find only two Night Stalkers, and I am not willing to risk being discovered by the enemy, because of your petty need for revenge!" his voice nearly cracked in anger as he said that last word.

Thunder was about to speck when they all hear a low, slow giggle. The giggle slowly turned into a loud laugh from the cloaked pony like she was a mad mare. "Revenge?" she said in a very familiar voice, "You want revenge? for what, your sister, brother, mother, or maybe your son?"

Rarity had her mouth open as she made the connection of the voice. "No..." she whispered in disbelief.

Rainbow was in the same state, "It cant be..."

The black pony decided to reid herself of the hood, reviling a green mint coat with darker green mane except for the white stripe though it. However, the most surprising feature was her golden eyes, filled with hate and anger. "I have more reason to kill you all." she continued "You murdered my friend!"

Both Rainbow and Rarity gasp, as there minds started working though the shock. They turned to each other, and said at the exact same time "Lyra!?!"

Fluttershy was walking though a beautiful meadow. Flowers dancing in the wind, Celestia's sun shining proudly in the sky, and both her pony and animal friends and playing all around her. Though, that was not the best part of today.

"I got it!" barked a little female dog, who was chasing a twig flying though the air. The dog ran, and ran, until the twig started to fall. She jumped, and grabbed the twig between her jaws.

"Good catch, Winona." Applejack cheered, once Winona returned. She didn't know when her friends could speak to there pets, but Fluttershy didn't care. Seeing Rainbow Dash talking to Tank about the next Daring Do book, Rarity and Opal salving there issues, she didn't know what Pinkie and Gummy were talking about, and Twilight with Owlowiscious reading there books under a tree. This was paradise.

"Hey, Fluttershy." she felt a little furry paw tug her mane. She turned around to see a small white rabbit. Fluttershy know Angel since his birth and has been taking care of him most of his life. Most ponies think that Angel abuses her to no end, but that isn't true, wile he is bossy he can also be very nice and protective of Fluttershy.

"Oh, hello Angel, isn't it a beautiful day." Fluttershy said as she leaned forward and nuzzled the little bunny. Angel, though, jumped away and ran up to her side, pushing her with surprising strength. "Goodness, I had no idea you were so strong." the timid Pegues.

Angel stopped pushing and looked at Fluttershy what seemed to be concern. "I'm sorry Fluttershy," he said, his voice almost shaking. "But you need to wake up!" the bunny started to spit out a trail of lime green fire towards Fluttershy.

Fluttershy screamed in terror and tried to run from the fire, only to crash into a metal bar. After rubbing her head to help with the pain, she looked behind her to see Spike sitting with a relieved look on his face. "Spike? What is going on? Why..." that is when she heard the laughing.

All around her ponies were laughing at the timid pony for hitting herself. Ponies carrying spears, swords, helmets, and varies other objects stuffed in bags. Fluttershy cowered behind Spike in an attempt to hide form the ponies outside their, cage? "S-Spike, what is going on?" she asked.

"I don't know," the dragon answered his voice full of worry, "I just woke up just a minute ago." The laughing started to die down a bit, so Fluttershy decided to peak out of her hiding spot to get a better look. However she couldn't see the landscape because it was so dark, but she did notice that their cage was moving. Fluttershy also noticed that there were at lest ten ponies walking around the cage, each either carrying stuffed saddlebags or a wagon filled with shiny-sharp items. Her heart started to thump faster.

"Hey." Fluttershy jumped with a 'eep' when a midnight blue mare flew to her cage out of nowhere. The pony only giggled at the pegasus's fear, showing a her four, fangs? Not only fangs, but she also noticed catlike pupils in her bright orange eyes, and on the pony's shoulders were a pair of bat wings. "Aww, look at that," she stated to the other ponies, "our little gest is a little scared of me." Most of the others chuckled with her, some just rolled their eyes.

Fluttershy could hardly believe it, a bat pony. Like most ponies, she only heard rumors of the mysterious race. However, it was a fact that they did exist, they just kept to themselves with an exception or two. The pony looked at her again, a strange hunger in her eyes. Fluttershy backed away from her as much as possible, quickly followed by Spike.

The mare smiled again, landed beside the cage, still looking at her and the dragon. However, the eyes she now carries are now examining the shy pony, "Your a strange one you know that?"

"W-What do you mean?" Fluttershy said, her fear being absorbed by curiosity.

"Well, its not every day that you find a pony passed out and sleeping with a dragon in the middle of a clearing." the strange pony explained, "I mean, it's as if you came out of no where, no trails, no signs of a crash, nothing." She then narrows her eyes at the shy pegasus, humming thoughtfully as she gave another toothy grin. Next, she licked her lips, which sent a chill down Fluttershy's spine "You know, it has been awhile since I last ate."

She's going to eat me! Fluttershy thought, trying to back away further, however her back is already at the edge of the cage. Spike walked up in front of her and spread his arms out trying to protect her, "Y-You leave her alone!" he said as bravely as he could make himself.

Again the mare laughed, only more cheerful, as if somepony made a joke. "Thi-This is just too easy!" the pony said, continuing to laugh even harder. Fluttershy felt her heart slow down at the knowledge that she wasn't in immediate danger, Spike however, was obviously angered "That wasn't funny!" he said with a stern tone.

"Just leave her be.", both of the captives turned to the front of the cage to see a earth pony stallion pulling it. He had a light brown coat and a short, but wild, black mane, and his cute mark was a simple stamp. His blue eyes looked at the two, a board expression on his face "Moonshine likes to scar ponies half to death, that is how she says hello, and how she gets entertainment."

'Moonshine' that was the bat pony's name. Fluttershy looked at Moonshine when she stopped laughing "Oh come on, I was about to introduce myself. Besides, what's the harm in scaring them a little." she said rolling her eyes.

"Nothing," the kind pony replied, "I just don't want her to faint in front of the boss, you know how scary he can be when he wants to." After hearing a sigh from Moonshine, he looked back to in front of him and continued to walk, not noticing the shy peguses wince.

A pony that these ponies are afraid of. Fluttershy thought. It was scary enough to be in a cage, surrounded by ponies that are sacked with weapons, and a bat pony that may or not eat other living things for fun. However, to hear that their leader might be more frightening than all of them combined was terrifying. She turned to Spike with pleading eyes, "What is going to happen to us?" she whispered.

"I don't know Fluttershy" he whispered back, his eyes filled with fear, and his voice full of pity. He sat down beside her, Fluttershy thought he had a good idea and laid with him, tired of standing for so long.

That was when Moonshine retuned, Fluttershy didn't even knew that she flew off. She gave one last playful look at the two she disappeared as she flew over the cage. Judging by the two subtle thumps on the wooden roof, Moonshine landed on top of the cage and was laying down. "You two have the right idea." she said yawning, "It will be sun rise by the time we get home so rest up, because you have a long day ahead of you." after that all the two could hear of the bat pony was quiet snoring.

Fluttershy sighed, Moonshine was right, it is late and she was tired. She laid her head down, she also felt the rough scales of Spike laying on her as a pillow, though she didn't care, and fell asleep, wondering where her other friends are.

Applejack was tired of walking. Ever since she and Pinkie Pie awoke, with Pinkie on top of her, in the middle of nowhere of some desert, they've been walking trying to find civilization. When they woken up the sun was starting to set behind a plateau, now the moon was almost in the center of the night sky making the rocky desert cold as winter.

The farm pony couldn't help but notice Pinkie, the most energetic pony she knew, getting tired and shivered in the cold. "It'll be alright, sugarcube. Soon we'll be out 'a here, Applelussa can't be too far."

"I know," Pinkie said, before sighing, "but why did Dissy do this? I mean, I know that we asked for it when he said he wanted help. But, why can't he just tell us what was wrong," Pinkie's mane started to slightly deflate as she said, "aren't we his friends?"

Applejack couldn't help but pity her normally happy friend, she and Discord have good friends even before Terik's attack; together they played games, and made the best of parties, she tried to be as close as a friend to Discord as Fluttershy was.

Applejack thought of all the times she herself has been with the Draconequus. They never seen eye to eye, Discord was still a chaotic being that brings disorder where ever he goes. Whenever he came to visit the Apple farm, he always tried to 'help' with something; have them grow legs to have them walk to the basket, which defeat the meaning of the work; changed the apple's taste to 'improve' it, and much more.

She knew that she was stubborn and that wasn't anymore true even after his reformation. Applejack felt that he needed a short leash for what he did to her and her friends, even after Discord help recapture Terik she didn't fully trusted him. It wasn't until Appleboom convinced her to put aside her pride and give him a chance a month ago.

Applejack looked at Pinkie and saw her falling behind, the poor party pony wasn't used to walking for long distances in long periods of time. She herself had the fortune of working on an apple farm, as she had to buck trees and carry the apples to the cellar. Applejack decided to walk slower for her pink friend, but was caught off guard when Pinkie leans into her for support her eyes closed.

"Are ya okay Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked, her voice full of worry.

Pinkie's eyes then shot open, shaking her head violently in an attempt to remain awake. "Yeah I'm fine" she muttered, however she still seemed to have the issue of keeping the pair of tried eyes open.

Applejack only glared at her, "Pinkie, ah am just as tried as you, no need ta lie." Seeing the look of shame on Pinkie's face she added "Hey now, don't ya fret none, we'll find shelter then we'll git ta Appeloosa." And once we get back ta Ponyville, I'm gonna give Discord a piece of ma mind! she thought bitterly.

Pinkie's expression brightened slightly. Glad to reassure her friend, the farm pony looked on ahead to the distance to look for just that, shelter.

The two continued to walk for what seems like forever, as Luna's moon rises higher to the night sky. Applejack was about to give up when something caught her eye. "Hey Pinkie, ah think ah've..." she looked for her friend, and found her laying on the ground, sound asleep. "Pinkie," Applejack said as she nudged sleeping pony "awake up, ah think I've found us a good sleepn' spot."

Pinkie's head lifted up slowly, one of her ears tilted in confusion "Umm, what?" her eyes weren't even half opened yet.

"Ah said," the farm pony restarted "that ah think that I've found a place to rest, thata way." she said pointing to there right.

almost as soon as she picked the direction, Pinkie gained a new surge of energy and started fast trotting on the path. Applejack had to use what bit of life in her legs she had left just to keep up.

It wasn't a long trip, but it was still tiring for two ponies without sleep. Once they've reached the location, both of them found a slop that leads down all the way to a wall of rock that boxes in the area below them. However, in the middle of the boxed canyon were dark green levees dancing in the night wind.

"Trees!" Pinkie cheered though her sleepiness. Applejack just stared in amazement, trees in the desert protected by underground wall of earth from the sandstorms, and get easy access to water, and a ramp like slop for ponies to easily walk down to the small forest, but why?

Both mares walked down to their temporary new home, there Applejack learned the answer to her question. Underneath almost every tree was some scattered apples. "It's an apple orchard." she muttered, relieved to find something familiar to her.

Pinkie walked behind one of the trees, once she returned she dropped a basket from her mouth. "And where there is an orchard," she reasoned, "there are ponies!" Pinkie Squeaked with excitement, only to yawn afterward.

Applejack quietly chuckled, "How about we get some needed rest, sugarcube." She walked past her friend to an apple tree, its branches covered almost all of the night sky giving a sense of security, "Right here seems ta be a good spot." she said as she laid her head to the chilly, yet soft, ground.

She heard a few hoofsteps as Pinkie got closer to their sleeping spot, then she felt an extra coat rub against her own. More out of curiosity than anything, she looked up to see Pinkie curled up like a cat right next to her. Applejack was glad that one of her friends was with her to keep her company, but she saw that Pinkie's eyes weren't only still open, they were looking into the distance in either sorrow or deep thought, she couldn't tell.

Out of worry for her friend Applejack asked "What's been botherin' ya, Pinkie? Ya look worry sick."

Pinkie turned her head to face her. Now that she had a good look, Applejack saw tears starting to form in the eyes of her friend, "Wi-will we be able to see our friends again?"

The question caught her off guard, will they? The land that they've found themselves in seems very similar to the desert around Appleoosa, but that didn't mean that they are anywhere near it. Not only that, but it is most likely that there friends are in the same problem as she and Pinkie, only farther way.

Her answer didn't come easily, "I don't know Pinkie, I honestly don't know." she said looking away from her friend and shutting her eyes, feeling her own tears run down her face.

Chapter 3: Into the Shadows

Rarity couldn't believe the situation that is acting out before her very eyes. Lyra, a decant costumer of her boutique and a good friend, was surrounded by angry brutes that dare to ware the Royal Guard armor, or at lest what looks like it. To make things worse, these ponies may be murders, murder hasn't occurred in Equestria for almost five hundred years, and they looked angry with their prisoner. That alone turned her blood run cold.

Thunder walked up to Lyra, a scowl showing to all. He look to her in the eye, then, to Rarity's utter shock, connected his left hoof to Lyra's face, knocking her to her side with a painful grunt. "Shut up, WITCH!" Thunder yelled, before being dog piled by the two other earth ponies and Windy.

The unicorn, Lieutenant Steel, walked between Lyra and the angry armored pony, who he looked down on; "Your lucky that your skills are too valuable for me to lose, other wise I would've taken you to court and hanged for disobeying an order." Steel then lowered his head to the same level as Thunder "Disobey me again, and I'll cut off your head myself, understood?" He growled. Without waiting for a reply, he turned to the mint green unicorn. "And you," Lyra slowly lifted her head to meet the stallion stone eyes, "Shut up, witch." He only answer was her spitting blood towards the hidden friends.

The white unicorn was horrified, how could the Royal Guard treat their prisoners and each other this way? Rainbow has told her that the guard was tough, but they treated the prisoners well enough and there all friends. Why was Lyra a prisoner in the first place? She was always a good mare, sweet even, always chatting with her friend Bon Bon, playing great music with her harp, and just a overall good pony. This doesn't make any sense! Rarity thought, her heart beating faster with a fusion of fear and anger.

She felt warm air run though her coat to her right, she looked to find Rainbow Dash puffing air with eyes of pure rage, and her normally smirking mouth revealing her teeth in a way that only a killer would. "I can't take anymore!" she muttered as she opened her wings to their full length, and with one great flap she flew out of their cover and right between Lyra and the Lieutenant, who backed up in surprise, "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" she bellowed.

Almost immediately, the crossbow ponies jump off of Thunder and, with a single motion the arms connected to their crossbows fling around from their backs, wile at the same time reached for their bolts. Meanwhile, Thunder got up as soon as he got the chance and unsheathed his sword, holding the mouth grip tightly, and ran up to the same row with he comrades. In only a second Rainbow was facing three loaded crossbows aiming at her, and an angry sword wielding stallion.

As soon an she realized Rainbow's situation, Rarity also jumped out of the bushes to aid her friend, "Rainbow!" she called. One of the crossbow earth ponies turned to her, a bolt aimed right at her. As soon as she saw his actions, she grounded to a holt and shut her eyes, hopeful that the bolt will miss.

After what Rarity assumes to be three seconds, she opened her eyes again to see the ponies in the same position. Steel had regained his composure, and is staring at Rainbow with a new expressionless frown. "You are interfering with imperial business," he said as he walked up to the rainbow mane pegues, "you will leave this area, or face arrest!"

"You got a lot of guts to threaten me," Rainbow stared at him with eyes burning in fury, "when you've been assaulting a pony who has done absolutely nothing wrong!" Her determined anger seem to slowly increase when Steel didn't reply and continued to look emotionlessly into her eyes; as if ignoring her call for justice.

However, having the experience of being around the nobles of Canterlot, Rarity saw that he had just as much anger within his pupils. Finally, he coldly spoke "If that is how you want it, Traitor!" He immediately unsheathed his sword with his magic and swung at Rainbow with freighting speed.

Much to Rarity's relief, her friend easily dodged with a single flap of her powerful wings and flew higher in the air. Rarity quickly glanced at Lyra, who's face was of pure shock and confusion. She retuned to the problem at hoof; Rainbow Dash looked ready to fight back against the lieutenant, who scowled as he levitated his blade to his side ready for another swing, his comrades pointed their weapons at Dash as she flew but held their fire, most likely waiting for the command to shoot.

Fear griped Rarity's heart, her friends are endanger of being killed in front of her own eyes. The world seem to slowed as Rainbow turned toward Steel, preparing to strike back. If Rainbow attacked, If the archers released their bolts, her friend will be... NO! I have to stop this madness! With newfound determination, she bellowed "STOP!".

Rainbow Dash froze in mid air, as did Steel with his sword floating on his side. Nether looking away from each other, and giving challenging stares, daring the other to strike first. However, their ears were turned to Rarity's direction, waiting for her to say something important. Rarity briefly felt pride swell though her, until she noticed she also caught the attention of one of the other archers, the pegues Windy, crossbow aiming, Rarity was sure, at her heart.

With a quick, nervous gulp, Rarity resumed her attention to the two ponies. "Can we please settle this issue civilly?" Steel hummed in thought, wile Rainbow Dash finally touched the ground hesitantly. "Lieutenant Steel, correct? My friend and I have known your prisoner for many years and she has yet to do harm. Please pray tell, what was her crime."

A firm 'huh' escaped Lyra's lips, her brow raised in utter confusion. Steel also seemed just as surprised, he immediately glared at Rarity "You can't be that stu-ugh!" Something flew past Rarity from behind her, and struck the Lieutenant's neck. Time seemed to slowed at that moment, Steel looked down at what had hit him, then returned to the white unicorn in front of him.

His mouth hung quivering, pulps shrunk in pure terror. To Rarity, it was like a foal that was hit by his own parents, and trying to ask, why? She had no answer. His legs gave out, and fell to the ground, lifeless. A blood soaked bolt in his throat.

Rarity's heart rushed in her chest, fear griped her like a cat on top of a mouse. She screamed.

"AMBUSH!" somepony yelled, almost on cue the shadows came alive with bolts and ponies.

Rainbow Dash immediately flew to Rarity, "Get down!" she yelled, Rarity was too happy to oblige. Rainbow got on top of her, trying to protect her friend wile looking side to side to find a way out.

From her position, Rarity watched the carnage unfold before her. She saw two ponies wrestling each other under the bolts that danced in the night sky. A blood-curled cry filled her ears as she saw another body fell from the corner of her eye, she flinched as a bolt landed mere inches from her. She closed her eyes, trying to hide from the horrors with no avail as the screams and battle cries continue to ring in her ears.

Finally, as soon as it started, the painful sounds stopped. Rarity waited, incase the fighting resumed. However as moments past she risked a glance, and regretted it. The entire clearing was filled with blood, bodies of the Guards laid in the moonlight all lifeless, even the armored stallion named Thunder was gazing toward her with dull, dead eyes.

On top of her, she could feel Rainbow breath rushed though her mane in rapid aggression. It was clear that she was as scared as Rarity was, though she tried not to show it with a menacing glare at the attackers.

Walking out of the shadows, ponies calmly looked at her and Rainbow with unreadable expressions. They had almost no armor in compression to the guards with the exception of some chain mail seen though the cuts of their night blue cloaks. Of which were long enough to hide their cutie marks, yet short so the cloth wouldn't get caught between the legs.

"Well it's about time!" came a familiar voice that made Rarity to jump a little; she have forgotten about Lyra. Rainbow remained on top of the white unicorn protectively as she watches Lyra walk calmly past them to the nearest attacker.

He was an orange-red pegasus, his cold ice blue eyes moved from them to the approaching Lyra. "Just doing my job ma'am" he stated "Although, you're going to have to report to the commander how exactly you got captured and Mayday killed."

Lyra sighed, "Alright, but what are we going to do with these two?" Rarity flinched as the mint green unicorn pointed to her and her rainbow friend. Why was Lyra so calm about this, seeing ponies killed and standing on a small pool of blood like a simple puddle of water, why were ponies killing each other to begin with, Just what in Celestia's name is going on! her thoughts demanded, but still to afraid to speak.

The pegasus narrowed his eyes on both of them, before returning to Lyra. "We follow protocol," he said glaring at the now surrounded friends, "they're prisoners until pardoned by a higher ranking officer."

"Now hang on a minute!" Rainbow shouted, she jumped off of Rarity and landed between her and the dark cloaked pegasus.

"We're not going anywhere until we get some answers. Who are you, where are we, why was Lyra in chains, and why did you kill all of those guards." Her fear and anger didn't go unnoticed by anypony, but Rainbow didn't seemed to care.

Nonetheless, the pony wasn't impressed. "You've got a lot of guts talking back to me like that." he said coldly, he then quickly pulled his crossbow from his back an pointed the already loaded bolt at Rainbow's shocked face. "I don't like being talk backed to by my enemies, so give me one reason not to bite the trigger." he finished his statement by placing the lever-like trigger inside his mouth, ready to fire.

Rarity watched in horror, the images of the dead bodies came rushing back into her, then they were replaced with Rainbow Dash. The thought alone, made her panic. NO! she mentally screamed Your friend is in trouble Rarity, you have to protect her! She starts lighting her horn, readying her magic to push the weapon away. However, before she could do anything a voice stopped her.

"How about helping to save my life?" Surprising both all three ponies, Lyra stepped beside the orange-red pegasus placed her hoof on the weapon and lowered it. The pegasus looked at her with confusion frozen face.

"So you do know these ponies Lyra?" he said once the confusion faded, now was just genuine curiosity.

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't." answered Lyra mysteriously. "The point is that these two," she pointed to the pair of friends, "gave one of our comrades with both time and a opening to take the first shot. And they are obviously against the empire." A small muttering of agreement was heard from the other armed ponies.

The pegasus, however, didn't waver. "We still can't trust them to roam at the camp, they still could be spies." he argued, another mutter of agreement.

Lyra just rolled her eyes, "Of curse not, that would be suicidal. I'm grateful, not stupid!" The mint unicorn then walked over to Rainbow, their eyes narrowed at each other, Rainbow was staring defiantly, wile Lyra seemed to just analyzed her.

Rarity saw her smile with interest, then returned to her comrade. "I'll just need two of your ponies as guards, then I'll keep an eye on them in my quarters." Lyra said. At the shocked faces of the other bow ponies, she explained "I figure they be treated as, umm, 'protected guests' than prisoners. Don't you think they deserved that at lest?"

"Hey, wait a minute!" All the ponies turned their attention to Rainbow, who flew up to Lyra and stepped in front of her. "Don't we get a say in this?!" she protested.

Lyra placed her hoof on her chin, as if considering it; wile the others stared at Rainbow like she insulted them. Lyra smirked, "Why yes you do, Miss Rainbow." she stated mockingly. "You and your friend could either come with us quietly, or you could resist and have fifteen bolts sticking into you like a pincushion." On that moment three of the ponies aimed their bows at both Rainbow and Rarity.

Rarity looked at all the bows pointed at them, the same weapons that killed five ponies with ease. She looked at the mint unicorn with shock eyes, What happened to her?! Rarity's mind roared Doesn't she recognized us? She stared into the green pony's eyes, they were still the same golden eyes of her friend, and they didn't seem threatening like the others, but they weren't kind either like she used to be; just interested.

Rarity decided to do the one thing she could do to solve this problem without conflict; she stepped in front of Rainbow, taking slow deep breaths, calming herself as she spoke "Why yes darling, I find these terms very much agreeable." All of the ponies were now paying their attention to her, Rainbow gave her a shocked and confused feature, Lyra glanced at her with curiosity, the orange pony only gave a huff, the three bow ponies lowered their weapons as they gained interest. Rarity gained confidence as she added "We're even willing to trade information of everything we know to our friend and hostess."

"A trade in information, eh?" Lyra commented.

Rainbow walked up to the white unicorn's ear. "Are you sure about this Rarity?" she whispered, "How can we trust these love-to-kill ponies when they did this?!" she gestured to the five dead bodies on the clearing, their lifeless gaze still filled with shock and fear.

Rarity shuttered, Rainbow Dash had a point, these ponies killed the five Royal Guard ponies with little to no hesitation. They were even able to kill the most armored pony of the group, Thunder. Still, there is one thing that comfort her, if only slightly.

"Because," she whispered back, "they are willing to kill to protect our friend, Lyra. I don't really like it either Rainbow, but I feel that we have a better chance to find the others if we can befriend them. Besides, If Lyra has reason to believe that they are trustworthy, then there is no harm in letting them question us." Rarity, feeling comforted by her own reasoning, then walked over to both Lyra and the orange pegasus.

"We are ready to depart with you. Although," she looked at the pegasus, eye brow raised. "It would be nice to know your name, good sir."

The pegasus only grunted, but narrowed his eyes in thought. Giving a sigh he answered, "I'm Captain Fire Bolt, of the Black Dust unit." he leaned close to Rarity, he eyes stern and serous; "That is all you need to know." he added coldly, before walking away to one of the other bow ponies.

"Geeze," Rainbow snorted, "what a jerk."

"You'll just have to get used to it." Lyra said as she walked over to them, "he's always been like that, even to his own friends, but he means well." She turned to the two friends and for the first time in that night, she gently smiled. "I know we both have questions about each other, but for what it is worth, thanks." With that she started to walk away in the direction of the Fire Bolt and their friends, "Now come on, before we get left behind."

Rainbow looked at Rarity, still seemed to be puzzled by what just happened in font of her eyes. "Are you really sure about this?" she asked

Rarity nodded "Yes, I am. I know this very confusing, as a matter of fact I am hoping all of this is just a nightmare and I am just sleeping in my comfortable bed dreaming about Discord sending us to a horrible land where ponies are killing each other for... no... apparent re-res..." She moaned as the remanding energy in her body that gave her strength just suddenly fade away, her vision went foggy, and she collapses to her side.

Luckily, Rainbow was there to catch her and lifted her back to her hooves. "You okay?" she asked worriedly.

Rarity blinked and slowly shook her head. "No Rainbow Dash," she muttered, "I don't believe I am."

She looked at the scene of the massacre around her once more, and Shuttered. What dark, twisted, madness drove these ponies to kill other ponies with such brutality. Wile the Guard ponies were acting cruel to Lyra, they still had families; Rarity glanced at Steel's corpse, he may had been a father.

"Come on," Rainbow finally said sadly, "we need to get going."

"Yes, of corse." Rarity muttered. She looked away from the body and into the eyes of her friend, in the unicorn's trained eyes it was clear that this event also hit Rainbow Dash just as hard as it had her and the only things keeping her sane were her training, and her pride.

Sighing, she and Rainbow walked behind the ponies, hoping that whatever happened to them next, would lead them to safety.