The Storykeepers

Chapter Three: Breakout Part 3: Nightmare Moon

At the house, Celestia took out the freshly baked piece of dough shaped like the key.

“It’s perfect.”  Celestia said as he held the key and gently tapped it on the counter as it made a clacking noise.  “My special recipe for Ronan Army biscuits is still as hard as ever.”

“Good work, Applebloom.”  Luna said with a smile.

“Thanks.”  Applebloom said, quite proud of herself at how easy the task was for her.

“Great.”  Twilight said as she studied the map she made.  “Once we open the cell, it’s just thirty paces to the left, then down the corridor to the right, and we’re home free,”

That night, everyone put on their beds as Applebloom lay in her bed.  She was worried.  She didn’t want to lose her new family only a few weeks after losing his parents.

“Celestia, what if Nightmare Moon gets us?”  Applebloom asked.

“Oh, you take away her brute strength, killer instinct, and strategic mind, and what do you have left?”  Twilight asked.

“Me?”  Applebloom asked uncertainly.

“Applebloom, Nightmare Moon may be powerful, but we have Jesus on our side.”  Luna said as she tucked Applebloom in.

“Is Jesus stronger than Nightmare Moon?”  Applebloom asked.  She’d only just started to learn about Jesus.

“Of course he is.”  Celestia said with a smile.  “Nightmare Moon may be able to hurt people, but he doesn’t have the power to heal them.  You know, there was once a man named Jairus whose daughter was very sick.  When Jesus came to the village, he rushed over to him and said, ‘My little girl is dying.  Please come and heal her, so she will live.’

“Jesus asked Jairus to lead the way when a servant of his walked up and sadly told Jairus, ‘Sir, your daughter has died.’

“At this, Jairus wept.

“Jesus picked Jairus up and said calmly, ‘Don’t be afraid.  Trust me.’

“Jairus then led Jesus to his house where the women of the household wept over the girl’s body.

“‘What’s all this noise?’  Jesus asked.  ‘This man’s little girl isn’t dead.  She’s just asleep.’

“But Jesus sent all but the girl’s parents away as he knelt down in front of her and took her hand as he asked, ‘Little girl, awake.’

“At once, the girl awoke and was helped to her feet by Jesus.

“‘Now give her something to eat.’  Jesus said simply as the little girl hugged her parents with joy, and he told them not to say anything of these events to anyone, but it’s hard to keep such a thing secret, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”  Applebloom said.

“Alright now,” Luna said simply.  “Off to sleep Applebloom.  I’m sure your sister and Fluttershy are already sleeping.”

“If they’re not, could you tell them that story too?”  Applebloom asked.

“Of course.”  Celestia said with a kind smile.

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight then left her room and shut the lights.

In their small cell, the Christians sang a small hymn as a guard clanged at the bars with his sword to silence them.

“That’s real pretty.”  The guard said with a smirk.  “But you’ll be singing a different tune tomorrow when you face Nightmare Moon.”

Rainbow Dash gulped.  She hoped Celestia and the others would arrive soon.

The day after his planning, Sombra sat in his own personal booth with a smirk as Nightmare Moon defeated several gladiators without even requiring her full might, and the crowd was cheering.

“If they love this, they’re going to love what she does to the Christians.”  Sombra said to Gilda with a smirk.

Outside the coliseum, Applejack was grumbling.  The first really exciting thing to do since the fire, and she was stuck near the cart.

“Why am I always stuck with baby-sitting duty?”  Applejack asked moodily.  “I should be inside helpin' Celestia and Twilight.”

“Then I guess that means I could drive the get-away cart.”  Fluttershy said a little nervously.

“Now that you mention it, maybe it’s better I’m here.”  Applejack said nervously.  Fluttershy still had trouble with her wings.

Inside the coliseum, Celestia rolled a barrel up to Sonata.

“Celestia!”  Sonata called out.

“Sonata.”  Celestia said with a smile in her voice.  “The gladiators weren’t very hungry today.  I’m afraid I’m stuck with all these left overs.”

While Sonata began getting busy with the fruits and vegetables, Twilight rushed off to the cells to free Rainbow Dash and the others.  She’d mastered the escape route and one or two off-shots just in case of an emergency.

Nightmare Moon continued to pummel the gladiators as Sombra stood up.

“Enough warm ups Gilda.”  Sombra said.  “Where are those weeping frightened Christians?  We need drama.  We need tragedy.  We need a body count.”

“Bring out the Christians, dude!”  Gilda called out.

“The gate’s opening!”  Flash called out as Twilight quickly unlocked the door with the key Celestia and Applebloom had made.  Twilight then lifted the door open.

“Follow me!”  Twilight said, and they all rushed off.

“Did I mention I love Apples?”  Sonata said as he stuffed his face with various apples Celestia had brought as she quickly waved Twilight and the others through.

“Bring on the Christians!”  A voice called out.

“Well, looks like break time’s over.”  Sonata said with a sigh as he walked to the holding cell and quickly ran back out screaming, “THE PRISONERS ARE GONE!”

“The prisoners are gone!”  Celestia repeated as she pointed all the guards that came to the call in the opposite direction Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Flash, and all the other Christians had gone.

Twilight rushed off with the others, leading the way as they made it to the hallway where they could escape into the crowds.

“Come on, the exit’s just ahead!”  Twilight called out.  Unfortunately, they were blocked by a soldier who had his back to them.  Now what?  Twilight hadn’t planned on any barriers right at the exit, and she couldn’t remember where the other closest exit was.

“I think we should go this way.”  Rainbow Dash said as she pointed behind him.

“If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”  Twilight snapped.  She’d had it with that little troublemaker.  “I say we go this way!”

Twilight then led the others to a large open gate.

“See guys?”  Twilight said with a smirk.  “We’re almost there.”

They rushed outside as they arrived at the large coliseum.

“At last!”  Sombra’s voice rang out from the stands.  “Christians.”

“Okay, maybe we should have gone your way.”  Twilight admitted as her way of an apology for everything.  In the end, it was Twilight that had gotten them into this mess, but luckily, her skills as a magic student of Celestia would help her beat Nightmare Moon, and allow the others to escape for a second chance at freedom.

Celestia heard the call and looked out the window to see Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and the other prisoners standing in front of Nightmare Moon.

“Oh no.”  Celestia groaned.

Twilight smirked as Nightmare Moon walked up.

“You don’t look so tough.”  Twilight taunted.

“There is more to me than meets the eye, little Christian.”  Nightmare Moon said as she winded Twilight with a single magical blast.

“That’s impressive.”  Twilight admitted as she blasted Nightmare Moon right back.

"You're kidding.  You're kidding, right?"  Nightmare Moon said with a dark smirk.

Outside, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Applebloom heard a roar from the stadium that didn’t sound like a pony’s or a lion’s.

“Y'all wait here.”  Applejack said as she rushed off.  “I’ll see what’s goin' on.”

Applejack rushed up to see a menacing black alicorn walk up to Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and the prisoners.

“Everyone, stay calm!”  Twilight called out.  “I’ve got everything under control!”

Nightmare Moon made a swing at Twilight that she dodged.

“Okay Tiny, let’s see what you’ve got.”  Twilight said as Nightmare Moon smacked Twilight into a wall as Applejack flinched.  Just then, Applejack saw Rainbow Dash juggling a shield and a helmet.

“Alright, step right up.”  Rainbow Dash said.  “The show’s about to begin.  I’ll need a volunteer though.  You ma'am!”

“Hm?”  Nightmare Moon asked as she turned to Rainbow Dash.

“Would you like me to juggle the helmet and bounce the shield or juggle the shield and bounce the helmet?”  Rainbow Dash asked as the helmet hit Nightmare Moon in the head, and the shield slammed into Nightmare Moon's hoof, causing her to groan.

Applejack then noticed everyone else escape through a small hole as he thought he heard Celestia’s voice say, “Flash, this way.”

Applejack knew he had to do something.  Applebloom, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash had their moments, and now it was her turn.  She jumped down in front of Nightmare Moon as Twilight apparently recovered and walked up.

“Let me at her.”  Twilight said with only a hint of fear.  “I’ll tear her to bits.”

“Actually, I’ve got a better idea.”  Applejack said as he went to a stone.  “Hey pal, ya ever heard a'David and Goliath?”

Applejack kicked a rock into Nightmare Moon's head, cracking her horn clean off as Nightmare Moon called out and clutched her head.

“They’re good.”  Sombra said to himself but still loud enough for them to hear.  “They’re very good.”

Twilight then picked the two fillies up and rushed to the gate Celestia was covertly keeping open.

“WHY’S THE SEWER GATE NOT CLOSING?!”  Sombra called out.

Twilight rushed to the gate as Nightmare Moon charged after them, just barely making it through before Nightmare Moon as Celestia knocked Nightmare Moon out with a well placed pan to the face as they all heard Sombra call out, “FOR THE LOVE OF THE ELEMENTS, WOULD SOMEBODY PLEASE KILL SOMEBODY?!!”

“Applebloom, another helping?”  Luna asked.  Everyone was at the mansion and having supper after the exciting day they’d all had.

“No thank ya.”  Applebloom said with a smile.

“Thank you for dinner, Luna.”  Rainbow Dash said.  “It was great, and thanks to all of you for saving me.”

“Oh, it was nothing.”  Fluttershy said with a smile.

“That’s easy for you t'say.”  Applejack said with a smirk.

Rainbow Dash then figured she should head out before anyone offered to take him home.

“Well…” Rainbow Dash gulped.  “I better get going.  My parents will wonder where I am.”

“Applejack, Applebloom, could you two please help me with the dishes?”  Luna asked.

The two quickly went to the sink with Luna.

“Rainbow Dash, we know about your parents.”  Fluttershy said plainly.

“You do?”  Rainbow Dash asked.

“Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”  Fluttershy asked.

“I guess I was just ashamed.”  Rainbow Dash said.  She now felt pretty brave admitting he was an orphan, but right now, he’d rather face Nightmare Moon again.  “You know, of being an orphan.”

“But I’m an orphan.”  Fluttershy said plainly.  “So are Applejack and Applebloom.”

“You are?”  Rainbow Dash asked.  She just assumed that Celestia and Luna were babysitting for the three of them.

“Yeah.”  Fluttershy said.  “Celestia and Luna took all of us in after the fire.”

“And you’d be welcome to stay with us too until we find your parents.”  Celestia said with a smile.

“You mean, you’d want me to stay with you?”  Rainbow Dash asked.

“Of course.”  Celestia said as Twilight walked up and held out her hoof with a smile.

“Welcome to the family, Rainbow.”  Twilight said as she bumped Rainbow Dash’s hoof.  “Now, there’s something I just finished I want to show you.”

“Come on, Rainbow!”  Fluttershy said excitedly.  “We have something to show you.”

Rainbow Dash was then taken to a room with a bunk bed.

“Well Rainbow, what do you think?”  Twilight asked.

“It’s for me?”  Rainbow Dash asked in awe.

“Unless ya want the lower bunk, Roomy.”  Applejack said with a smile as Rainbow Dash flew onto the top bunk with ease.  “No thank you.  This suits me just fine.”

Everyone then smiled and began talking with their new friend, Rainbow Dash.