The Outlander's Trial

Twilight had had a great night despite everything going on, and Dashie's comfort had made her feel more confident about how well they had done and how well her brother would pull through. She was on her way to Bow's house, she owed Bow and Breach a HUGE thank you for risking their lives for her brother. 'Especially since Shining had acted like such a mule towards the two.' she thought. Twilight wondered how her brother was, he'd looked like he'd gone looking for a piece of hay in a needle stack, and she was sure that he had a lot on his mind as well given who'd rescued him.

She approached Bow's door and walked in. 'Hmm they must still be in bed.' she assumed as she rounded the corner.

'Was that the door? Huh, mind must be playing tricks on me.' The thought drifted lazily through Bow's head as she looked back at what had transpired during her night with Breach. It had been amazing, like nothing she'd ever dreamed. Slowly she garnered her position in her bed. She was draped across Breach's stomach while he laid on his back.

'Easy does it, don't want to wake him up now,' she thought as she carefully extricated herself from her position over Breach, 'Thighs and hips are a little sore, but that’s not too surprising.' Bow suddenly noticed movement off to the side.

Twilight turned the corner into bow's room just in time to see the little mare pulling herself off of Breach, stretching her hind legs. It took Twilight a second, then suddenly realized what must have transpired between the two. Her eyes doubled in size just as Bow turned and looked at her.

"Gaaahhh!" Bow screamed. Quickly grabbing a pillow, she let fly at Twilight smacking her clean in the face. At this Twilight also yelled and darted out the room.

Bow was awake, and he knew it. Honestly he was content to lay there, the feeling of Bow's movements told him that she was stretching, and he didn't mind too much that she kept brushing against him. Suddenly he felt Bow stiffen and let out a scream. His eyes shot open just in time to see Twilight high tailing it out of their room and Bow staring at the doorway rather embarrassed.

"Well that’s one way to get up in the morning." Breach muttered. Bow looked down realizing he was awake. "Sorry, Breach." was her simple response as they untangled themselves. The two stopped and stared at each other for a time once they'd fully gotten loose of the bed. "Well I suppose we should go out and see what Twilight wants, eh Bow?"

Walking out of the room side by side they were immediately assailed by a barrage of 'sorry's from Twilight. "Twilight, its fine, you couldn't have known what you were trotting in on." smirked Breach, who'd actually found the situation mildly humorous. "So what's with the surprise visit anyway?" Bow inquired. "Oh yeah, I wanted to thank you two for what you did for my brother, and how helpful you've been. Also I really would like to apologize for just now." "So your brother doing good? That’s wonderful news." "I agree, the colt and I may not have gotten off on the right hoof, but he's got heart. Besides, I can respect his want to keep you safe." With that said Breach glanced over at Bow to see her nodding in agreement.

"Alright, the outlanders got something big going down. My pegasi scouts can't get close without coming under a barrage of fire. It looks like they're tightening security and preparing for somepony's arrival or something. Somepony important." reported Dash.

"Breach, you don't think that she's coming here do you? It'd be a bold move" asked Bow.

"I think we've done enough here to piss off the queen for a century or two, it doesn't surprise me to much at all really." Breach calmly stated, "I'll go on a scouting run tonight and see what I can find out."

"I'll go with him as well." Bow quickly shot in.

"We attack tonight! That’s my word as Queen and to deny it is death. Besides those foals would never expect an attack this soon, they won't be ready for it." rambled the outlands Queen, " Keep the Equestrian scouts at bay for as long as possible, then start the troops as soon as the sun sets!"

"Baener, have we chosen our path yet? I honestly don't wish for the Queens success. If she succeeds in this venture, what’s to stop her from coming after us?"

"I find myself on similar thoughts. For now though, we shall watch, specifically watch Breach. The stallion will be heading out tonight on a scouting run with Bow. We may be able to get into contact and express our desire to help."

"Besides, we aren't just a pair of ponies now." gestured Siobhan.

Looking behind them Baener scanned across the 30 or so outlands rebels. They all wished for peace, just like Siobhan and himself. They had recently been liberated from the prisoner's fair, a macabre place for executing prisoners and slaves. On the note of slaves he looked a little to the left to note the 12-16 or so slaves he'd already rescued. He needed to get the two factions to trust each other, but the rebels still carried an air of superiority, and the slaves had no trust for them. He'd have to figure this out soon.

"Celestia, what are you thinking about now?" inquired Luna. "I've done everything I could to prevent harm coming to my subjects after the changeling incursion, but I have failed. I have failed due to one mare, a traitor to Equestria. One mare with vengeance in her heart. Luna, is this my punishment for failing you?"

"You never failed me sister, I failed myself. You need to understand that you can't hold yourself personally responsible every time something bad happens. You can't control a pony's thought, only they can. Remember that, and your rule will strengthen greatly." Luna encouraged. She knew her older sister was worried, but she had to stop blaming herself.

Scootaloo was following Fluttershy around. She did everything from holding ponies steady, to lifting i.v bags, and had even stitched up a small but deep cut. She enjoyed it, helping the ponies, and while it wasn't as adventurous or cool as saving Bow and Breach was, it was just as fulfilling. She couldn't help but worry though. Twilight's brother had already been brought in, and every time the tent flap opened she feared it would be somepony she knew well. Still she pushed on, helping everypony she could.

Evening was waning and the night was falling, there was no moon though. Breach and Bow set out for the scouting run, and Bow already had her wings in place. Breach had place spells of infrared vision on himself and Bow, without the moon they would be harder to spot, and Breach was making sure the enemies had no such advantage.

"So, do you really think that the Queen showed up here for us Breach?"

"Like I said before, she's got to be infuriated at our survival. It wouldn't surprise me if she's ready to lead a charge on Ponyville herself."

The two ponies had continued walking, honestly paying little attention to their surroundings, they were nowhere near the outlanders’ camp. That's why Bow was so surprised when she caught a group of ponies in her infrared vision.

"Breach, are they with us?!"" she'd started, only to realize that it wasn't a group but the frontlines of an army! The outlanders were right on top of them!

"Bow, this is about to get hectic, take these bombs fly up and drop them in the ranks!" With this the stallion took off towards the outlanders, Tartarus bent on causing as much damage as he could.

He charged into a soundly surprised group of stallions, scattering them in seconds. He glanced up, seeing Bow already intent on her job. Knowing his mare was safe he went all out. Two stallions charged in on his left. Spinning about he caught them both with one well place kick. Another one on his flank with a terrifying buck to the face. Reaching for magic, he sent another three sprawling, but took a kick in the right shoulder. Rounding on the offending stallion, Breach reared up and smashed him into the ground. Breach then took another hit from behind. Realizing he was surrounded he decided to fight his way out of the group.

Dropping the bombs, and scattering a multitude of ponies, Bow turned about to see Breach attempting to fight his way out of a throng of outlanders. She dived in and started her dance, somersault over this stallions back to kick that one, slip under this others legs tripping him and emerge with and upward thrust to another’s chin. Getting behind Breach, the two valiant ponies circled, Bow would swing low, to have Breach come 'round and strike high. Bow then took the unsuspecting pony Breach had gotten to block mid height with a high kick.

Breach knew it was futile. They couldn't keep this up, and Ponyville needed warned. "Bow, you need to go, now!" he yelled.

"Not a chance Breach, no way I'm leaving you here!" "Bow, Ponyville has no knowledge of this attack, they need to be warned! We can't hold them off!" "Just shadow step Breach!" "No light, the moons not out tonight, but there is something else I can do... Bow you NEED to leave, NOW!"

Something in the way Breach said it made her know what he was doing. She also knew that the middle of the fray was not where she needed to be, and that Breach was right, Ponyville needed warned. She took flight with a final word "I love you Breach! I will be back for you!"

Breach reared up, shifting into his true form. Now 2x larger than the tallest outlander, and with true arms, he tore into the horrified outlanders. Noticing a glow to his right he turned and saw an outlander unicorn charging his horn. About to use this chance to shadow step, Breach realized that he didn't know where the unicorn was aiming. Following the outlanders sight, he discerned with horror the unicorn had Bow in his sights. Rushing over he grabbed to whole face of the offending stallion, taking the entire blast from it. Thoroughly enraged, he grabbed the shoulder blades of the unicorn and twisted his claws in opposite directions. The sickening crunch and snapping that ensued told Breach it was time to move onto a new target. Wading into the horde, he caused as much damage as he could but it was taking a toll. His right side took the most hits, without his full range of vision; he couldn't see any attacks coming from that side. Then there was the whole group and sheer numbers that he couldn't outmatch. Breach finally collapsed amidst the throng of stallions, blacking out.

Bow fly like a bat out of Tartarus. She had to get to Ponyville and warn everypony, and then get back to Breach.

"Hold the line." Twilight shouted, she didn't know what exactly had happened, but they'd come under attack not long after night fall. Nopony was ready for the immediate counter attack. Five of Twilight's shields had fallen almost immediately. She knew they were failing, she needed Shining for this, she had no knowledge on how to work an army, and no time to read a book about it.

They came out of nowhere, cutting down stallions left and right. Wave upon wave of outlanders piled upon the Equestrian forces. They couldn't hold, breaking and crumbling. All around ponies fought til they couldn't fight anymore, while others gave up outright. Defenses crumbled, and the scream of the wounded or worse filled the air.

Rarity was surrounded before she realized that there was an attack. Not a fighter, and with nopony to help her she surrendered immediately.

AJ, Big Mac and Braeburn saw the outlander coming up towards the war machines. The three Apples went on a counter offensive, sending stallions flying in every direction. Outnumbered, and already winded from working the catapults, it didn't take long for the three ponies to go down under piles of thrown nets.

Pinkie had just returned with supplies when she found herself surrounded. "Come with us!" demanded an outlander. "Okie-dokie-lokie" came the reply, Pinkies attitude comparable to when she thought her friends had decided to not be her friends anymore even though they were actually being good friends.

The med bay was surrounded, Fluttershy only agreeing to their surrender as long as none of the injured were harmed any more. The outlanders had agreed to this. Fluttershy had started towards the door when a stallion pushed her down and ordered her to hurry up. At this Scootaloo burst from her hiding spot and shoved the outlander backwards. The response was a quick back hoof that sent the filly flying into some cabinets knocked out cold. Fluttershy tried to rush to the filly's side but was pushed out the flap. "What about the filly?" "Leave her, we just need the Elements."

Rainbow Dash's air force was taking a beating. She'd already been grounded from a wounded wing, but continued to fight on. Eventually surrounded, along with Derpy and a few other soldiers she was given an ultimatum. "Element! Surrender or I'll order your friends and fellow ponies executed!" Rainbow Dash couldn't allow her friends to be harmed. Head down, she was led off in one direction as Derpy and the other were led off in another.

Twilight was sending magical bolts at anypony trying to crest her hill. Her defenses broken ages ago, and though she was tired, she continued to fire and fight. She couldn't maintain it though. She felt her head throbbing, her heart beat racing, and flank heaving. Her vision began to dim, and Twilight blacked out.

Shining had used a spell to check on Ponyville. Seeing everypony in trouble, and the defenses crumbling, he gathered the hoofful of able bodied stallions, met up with Cadance, and boarded the train for Ponyville immediately.

Seeing how worried Shining was, Octavia and Vinyl boarded the train as well, without his knowledge of course, in hopes that they could aid the fight.

Bow came upon Ponyville. Crestfallen she realized she was too late. Drifting to the ground, tears in her eyes, she wanted nothing more than to die. Breach had been overwhelmed she was sure, and Ponyville had fallen too. Suddenly she heard rustling behind her. Rounding about she came face to face with Baener, a well known outlands assassin. "I don't care anymore. Kill me, take my corpse to the queen and reap your reward."

The Queen was ecstatic. Ponyville conquered, Breach captured, and the Elements secured! All that was missing was Bow, but she wasn't too worried about it. For now she took great pleasure in inflicting as much pain as possible on Breach. "So my daemon friend, you thought that this was going to end well? You are a daemon after all, you beasts don't get happy ending, you get slain. The public execution tomorrow will see to that. But I think I might save you until last, until Bow has been captured, and you can watch as I kill her slooooowly." "The only response from the hobbled stallion was a wad of spit, perfectly aimed, that hit the Queen square in the eyes. "How dare you!" Striking Breach multiple time, she finally got to see him fall unconscious.

The next day had come. The Elements were lined up, along with some other key defenders. Derpy, who had caused numerous 'accidents', Braeburn and Big Macintosh, who had started a minor uprising, Carrot Top, who had slyly slipped the guards rotten food, and Cheerilee who had proved undeniably effective with a metre stick. Breach was being held off to the side in stallion form, he sported numerous new bruises and a few new cuts.

The Queen walked towards the curtains of the stage on the makeshift prisoners fair. It had finally come to a close, and she had won. The curtains flung wide to reveal her to everypony.

"You!" screamed Twilight Sparkle.

"I can't believe it!" agreed Rainbow Dash.

The other captive Equestrians were just as shocked. There before them stood none other than...

"Yes, you foals, it is I the GREAT and POWERFUL TRIXIE!" the outlands Queen shouted. With that she locked her eyes onto Twilight evilly.

"Let's start this off with YOU!"