A Twinkle of Hope

Chapters

Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Prologue
Chapter 1

Chapter 2

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 2

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes difficulty, trying to fight their natural gravity. Painfully she got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, barely cognitive enough to prepare a pot of coffee. A few minutes later and she was already starting to adjust to the unforgiving morning. Walking outside in her robe she grabbed the paper. "Ponyville National Guard retreats." she read to herself. "Mayor is now talking about peaceful integration into Democratic Republic of Equestria." Rainbow Dash was never one for politics, but that meant the War would soon be over. She could get on with her life, managing the weather in town. She wasn't hurt directly by the conflict. Everyone she knew lived in Ponyville, which had yet to have a single raid, and that record looked like it would remain undisturbed. She put down the paper, finished her bagel, and left her home.

Already people were shifting away from war-mode. The peace talks were now set for today. Rainbow Dash met with her friends in the town square, in a great throng of ponies awaited the Mayor.

"Can y'all believe it? The War's finally fixin' to be over!" Applejack proclaimed. She had been growing apples for the military as food, and increasing demand had sapped her farm's soil dry. She needed to feed a town and every year her resources dwindled to do that. She was eager to begin the healing process.

"Simply marvelous! The stress of this dreadful conflict has taken its toll. Just look at my mane! Last night I'm certain I spotted a grey hair!" said Rarity, weary from having to stay up day and night making uniforms for soldiers. The winter months were especially trying, what with all the snow and cold weather, and she had bags under her eyes from the long hours.

Twilight had never adjusted as well as the others to the fact Princess Celestia no longer sent letters. She didn't know why, but feared the worst. She was somber: "It's hard to imagine living in an Equestria without the Princess, without her guidance..."

Spike had done his best to cheer up Twilight Sparkle these last few months. "Don't worry, Twi. Soon we'll be able to get past this war. Look! The Mayor's walking on stage! That'll take your mind off of things."

Pinkie Pie in her usual joyfulness applauded loudly at the politician. "Yay! Mayor! Yay! She's gonna speak and the war's gonna be over and I'll be able to make lots of cupcakes and..."

Fluttershy placed a hoof in front of Pinkie's mouth. She stood watching the speaker on stage.

"Citizens of Ponyville! I am pleased to announce a peace treaty between Ponyville and the Democratic Republic of Equestria!" she announced. As everypony cheered, a serious looking stallion pegasus wearing a black business suit approached her. He was accompanied by four armed guards.

Clearing his throat, the stallion turned to the ponies of Ponyville. "I am pleased to inform you that peace will be made with Ponyville. However the city has been selected for demolition. Evacuation crews will be here tonight to assist in the resettlement of the citizens. Packing is not necessary. Thank you." Everypony's eyes widened.

"What do you mean 'demolition'!" yelled a disgruntled unicorn. "You can pry me from my house when I'm dead! What are we..."

A loud "BANG" was heard, and the unicorn fell over, unmoving. Everypony was screaming and crying, until they realized they were surrounded by soldiers. The Stallion on stage spoke, "Please be calm. This criminal sought to agitate you ponies and compromise your safety. Rest assured we shall protect you from any such agitators until evacuation crews arrive. Please return to your homes.

He walked away, unphased by the death of a pony that just occurred. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Twilight, and Spike decided to meet at the Sugarcube Corner. A paralyzing fear plagued them all.

"What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?" Pinkie Pie looked like she was about to hyperventilate.

"Ah think we should split it and leave town!" AJ Interjected.

"Have you seen the soldiers? They're all across the city!" Fluttershy pointed out, teary-eyed.

Rarity tried to calm the group, "Girls! Girls! I think the best thing to do is wait here for the evacuation. At least it's the safest thing to do." Rarity's voce was heavy with defeat.

Rainbow Dash however wasn't buying into that, "How can you say that? I'm not just gonna let them destroy this place! I..I love Ponyville..." Something new possessed her. Seeing the filly die earlier gave her a newfound sense of duty to her town, to its ponies.

"No Rainbow Dash! I don't want you to go do something stupid and dying! You're coming with us! Now we should all go pack." Rarity wouldn't take 'No' for an answer. Rainbow sulked, not wanting to disturb her already traumatized friends any further.

They spent the day in the Sugarcube Corner, trying to distract themselves from the morning's events. Before any of them knew it, it was nighttime. The great artificially lights that took the place of the sun had gone out, replaced with the dim "starlights". Everypony was about to leave the pastry shop to gather their essentials. The evacuation crews certainly would be arriving soon.

Then they each heard a sound that had never occurred in Ponyville during the whole war. All 7 of them shuddered in fear at the noise piercing their ears: the sirens were going off.

Chapter 3

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 3

The defeat at Fillydelphia disheartened many ponies early on, especially those living in the neighboring towns. Some immediately surrendered to the "Equalists", and the Rebels grew in strength. Morale grew low when a long string of battles produced nothing but defeats for Equestria. The Princesses grew worried. Something had to be done to change these feelings of futility. Therefore a national propaganda campaign was launched.

Victories made the headlines in every paper in Equestria, and triumphant pictures of generals parading through liberated cities empowered everypony. They happily rationed and mobilized, wanting to feed and supply a glorious military. Defeats were kept classified, and presses were payed off to keep quiet.

But as the war dragged on, headlines of decorated commanders grew few and far between. The Equestrian military was steadily being pushed westwards, until they were defending the gates of Canterlot itself. Fighting raged for days until...the royal capitol finally fell. In that decisive blow, Equestria had fallen, and her military retreated to a secluded, unknown location.

Because of the censorship, nopony really knew what happened to the princesses, or any conquered pony for that matter. Much of free ponies' knowledge came from hearsay. Especially mysterious was the Republic. It's leaders heavily censored the press, much more than Equestria did. Movement from city to city was restricted. What little information made it across the border was all based on rumor, which by now had evolved into legends and lore. And the biggest legend was who was in charge of the Republic.

It was called the "Premier". That was all anypony definitively knew. Was it a stallion or a mare? Was it an earth-pony, a pegasus, or unicorn? Some said it was another Alicorn, strong enough to defeat Celestia and Luna, combined! Others thought the Premier was a former Equestrian general who slaughtered his officers and descended into madness. Still others...

This was how Rainbow dash and her friends spent the war years, trying to figure out who this pony was, or come up with the most ridiculous story about "it". It kept their minds off the War, which progressively grew worse every day. And it kept their minds off the fates of all those ponies conquered by an unseen enemy. Twilight of all was ever anxious about the Princesses, sometimes staying up for hours into the night wondering what happened to her beloved mentor.

But even so the horrors of the Civil War never blighted Ponyville...until now.

The seven of them heard the blood-curdling ring of the sirens, placed there to warn of an attack. They looked out the window of the Sugarcube Corner to get a better look outside. Faint sounds could be heard, almost like...explosions. Large plumes of smoke and fire erupted in the distance. All of them understood what was happening. Rainbow Dash had the courage to say it aloud; "We're being bombed..."

Bursting out of the bakery, all six ponies rushed home to secure their things, and check on anypony nearby. Applejack raced to Sweet Apple Acres as fast as her gallop would take her. Were Applebloom, Big Mac, and Granny Smith alright? Could they make it in time? She didn't want to think about that now. Now was the time to just do, not think.

Rarity was no less quick in her movements, arriving at her boutique. There, behind a chair, huddled Sweetie Belle, absolutely terrified. Rarity thanked Celestia, and told her sister to come with her. The meeting place was at Sugarcube Corner. The generous mare prayed her friends would make it in time.

Fluttershy checked on her cottage, and grabbed Angel. All the other animals fled into the woods. There they would be safer, Fluttershy thought. Subsequently she jetted back to the meeting spot.

Pinkie Pie ran upstairs and warned Mr. and Mrs. Cake about what was going on outside. Hastily the pink pony grabbed her dear Gummy and waited anxiously downstairs and started preparing food for the journey, worrying about her friends, her heart pounding in her chest.

Twilight Sparkle couldn't go to her home. It was too close to the bombing. She therefore stayed behind and helped Pinkie Pie. Twilight knew she shouldn't bring it up, but she could not help herself;

"What's going on? I thought they were going to evacuate us!" she was borderline hysterical.

"I dunno...I dunno...Twilight? I'm so scared..." the usually jovial mare was crying heavy tears from her blue eyes.

The bell rang above the door. It was Applejack and her family. "Ah'm here to help! We can't take too much time! Big Mac! Get all the food you can carry!"

"Eeyup!"

Applejack took charge like nopony's business. She was in full survival mode, trying to protect her friends and family. Fluttershy, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle soon came inside. they too were put to work.

Ten minutes passed and the group seemed to have all the things they needed. Except for one thing. Where was Rainbow Dash?

Chapter 4

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 4

Rainbow Dash darted across Ponyville. She was on a mission, but whereas most of her friends were busy gathering supplies for themselves, the loyal pony was frantically searching for something. She knew she wouldn't need anything from her home. She could get by without her familiar possessions. What she NEEDED was to make sure her young ward was alright.

Ever since the war started, the Wonderbolts were called into active duty. Without anything to obsess over, Rainbow grew bored. But then she found an activity in looking after the young Cutie Mark Crusader Scootaloo. She gave the filly flying lessons a couple times, and something clicked. After a few more sessions, Scootaloo was gliding more than 50 feet on a good day. Nothing made the girl happier that to learn under her role-model, and the rainbow-maned mare grew to see the orange pony as a sort of sister.

That bond drove her across town, through throngs of screaming ponies and great clouds of smoke and flames. None of that mattered to her, however. Zipping past home after home she was desperate to reach Scootaloo before...no! She didn't want to think about it...

After what seemed like an eternity, Rainbow Dash finally made it to the steps her "sister's" house. But the door was open and it was dark inside. She noticed that some chairs and tables had been knocked over. Not much care was taken when the occupants departed. The cyan pegasus postulated that her apprentice had already fled. Breathing a sigh of relief, she soared up, back to Sugarcube corner.

Only on the way back did Rainbow finally see the face of Ponyville's attacker; a squadron of armored pegasi flew overhead, holding what seemed to be large metal...oblong balls. The bombs! Her blood started to boil at the sight of ponies bringing such harm to all she held dear. Half of her wanted to tackle the closest bomber to the ground, and break his neck. But fortunately the half of that wanted to flee with her friends was in charge.

But the horrid scene still drew her mind. If only for a split second Rainbow looked in awe at what great destruction ponies were capable of. Bombs exploded into great fiery flashes. Bullets illuminated the nighttime darkness with their streams of glowing spots, strangely hypnotizing to Rainbow. Large metal vehicles shot giant blasts in the distance that seemed to annihilate whole city blocks. And the screams...

She snapped out of it and continue to fly back to the meeting place. But the carnage around the pegasus still caught her attention. She glanced at a weeping mare, leaning over an unmoving form. It was her son! Taken by an onslaught of bullets or flying debris. Rainbow Dash was suppressing every urge she had to fight back. She had more important things to do now. A mere twenty feet from the Sugarcube Corner, she looked up to the artificial "stars" and swore she would avenge her home.

Then, almost on cue, a blast from the artillery far outside of town hit her cloud castle. All that hard work, time and money, wasted, she thought. The white mass of rubble came crashing down over the ground. Again Rainbow snapped back into reality. She needed to hurry, but all these distractions kept delaying her.

Finally, she reached for the door handle and heard the once inviting bell ring. Inside were her friends, and then some. The group looked packed and ready to go, waiting only on Rainbow Dash.

"Where have you been?! We need to go now!" Twilight's expression conveyed both fury and desperation.

"I was...uh...checking on Scootaloo.."

"Really?...How is she?..Is..." whimpered Applebloom.

"She's just fine."

"No need to worry about your friend, baby sister. Alright ponies! Saddle up. We haven't got time to waste." Applejack was now the de facto leader of the refugees.

Running through the streets the group tried in vain to elude the approaching soldiers. In the fifteen or so minutes Rainbow had been gone, the invaders had made considerable progress into the city.

They were all cornered. Menacing ponies in uniform came, pointed guns at them. An officer was barking orders, orders that made everypony's heart sink.

"Remember, not a single mare, filly, or colt is to be harmed. But as for the stallions, only the strong ones are useful. Like that one!" the officer declared, pointing a hoof at Big Macintosh.

At once the group's ears rang as gunshots filled the air. A mere second passed, and they all saw the horrible sight. Mr. Cake was laying on the ground, blood flowing from every part of his body. The beloved baker had been gunned down, without remorse. A feeling of utter helplessness enveloped the rest.

Nopony dared to move. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were coddled in their older sisters' embraces. Spike turned his head into Twilight's mane. Pinkie Pie and Mrs. Cake comforted the now fatherless twins.

A soldier advanced, threatening to stab a pony with his bayonet if they didn't start moving. The sad march began. Once they were outside Ponyville, the now displaced populace watched their beautiful home as it burned to a crisp. A convoy of trucks arrived, no doubt for deportation.

But the group would not get on without planting a seed of hope. Everypony knew Rainbow Dash could escape. She was fast enough. The rest would certainly be caught by trained soldiers. Applejack gave her a slight smile, a nod, and a teary-eyed look of endearment. It told the blue pegasus exactly what the rest were thinking; "Go. Save yourself."

She hesitated with the idea of abandoning her dear friends. She couldn't...but...but...then again she could get help. Reluctantly she leaned toward Applejack. Rainbow Dash, holding back tears with every fiber of her being, whispered into the honest pony's ear "I WILL come back". She then flew up, and with all her strength, blasted across the sky. But she wasn't out of danger yet.

Chapter 5

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 5

The world was a blur. Everything merely whizzed past as Rainbow Dash raced across the sky, frantically trying to out-fly the two armed soldiers darting right behind her. They at first told Rainbow to stop, and come peaceably. But the ever brash and bold pony would not relent, especially after her friends entrusted the element of loyalty with finding help. Come Hell or high water she would not relent, and no soldier was going to change that.

But she could hardly see where she was going, and it didn't help that she had no idea to what place she was going either. And to make matters worse, the soldiers were past trying to apprehend the cyan pegasus, and started firing their guns. Streams of bright orange dots littered the gap between the three flying ponies.

Pure adrenaline coursed though Rainbow's veins. she didn't care where she was flying to, so long as she made it there in one piece. After what seemed like hours, she swooped down into the trees, trying to lose her pursuers. But Dash underestimated just how strong these stallions were, smashing off tree branches in their flight. Even her signature maneuvers could not deter the resolute military ponies. Rainbow Dash contemplated in her mind for a fraction of a second to just give up. But that thought was killed and buried by her incomparable sense of loyalty. Nothing would get in her way.

Encouraged by this feeling, she closed her eyes and propelled herself as fast as her wings would take her. Even with the constant rat-tat-tat sound of the bullets itching to bury themselves inside her, she could concentrate just enough to channel all her energy into flying. Faster...faster....faster she went, until a cone started to form around her. This was it, she thought. I'll break the sound barrier and be rid of these monsters. But right then a thought crossed her mind: would her great Sonic Rainbow actually save her, or just attract attention. She pondered this in the time from the cone forming to when she jettisoned at supersonic speeds...or she would have.

Right before she could launch, she felt a sharp pain in her right wing. At that very moment she stopped flapping, the inertia still carrying her forward, and gravity pulling her down. During her descent she overheard the soldiers saying "She's as good as dead. Mission accomplished." "Now let's go to those other mares and..." whatever followed was too faint and far away to hear.

Crashing onto each and every tree limb between the forest canopy and the ground, Rainbow Dash finally hit the hard, unforgiving soil. Then it all went black.

A few minutes later she came to, and tried to lift off again, but the sharp pain kept her wings from flapping. She checked the right one, to assess the injury. The bullet only grazed her, but seemed to slightly crack the bone. From here on out, Rainbow was walking.

Still high on adrenaline, the cyan pegasus ran through the woods, ducking and dodging anything in her way. Dash didn't care which direction she ran, the same as before. Hopefully she'll reach civilization sooner or later.

Her escape was interrupted when she came across a pond. Painfully thirsty, the pony took a drink and washed her wing. She could not do it anymore. A tear fell from her eye and cause a ripple in the water. more tears quickly followed. She sat down on her haunches and wept till her eyes became dry. She wailed and spoke to herself out loud.

"Why! I...I don't know what to do...my friends...I can't...I'm...I can't fly and I have no idea where to go. I've let them down, and now they're going to...Celestia knows what..."

When the tears stopped, she noticed her reflection. Gazing at her own face, a look of resolve again covered her countenance. No! Never give up! I've got to help them! Wiping her eyes, she got up, and continued.

Now, with her wing wrapped in a makeshift bandage of leaves, Rainbow Dash earnestly traversed the woods. Glade after glade, meadow after meadow. The great artificial "day lights" were just starting to turn on, their dim light gradually increasing. In the early morning light she noticed a sort of walled structure and the faint silhouettes of ponies walked across it. She did not know whether this fort was friendly or hostile, but nonetheless she walked closer to the gate.

She heard a pony yell something while pointing a hoof at her.

Then, utterly exhausted, Rainbow collapsed on the ground. The last thing she saw before passing out was a blurred figure standing right in front of her.

Chapter 6

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 6

"What an awful dream." thought Rainbow Dash as she awoke. She had a nightmare the previous night, in which Ponyville had been destroyed and her friends...but it wasn't a dream. Often times she would awake in the morning feeling like the whole war had been a bad dream, only to quietly cry. But this time was different. Tears poured from her eyes, and before long the sheets of her bed were soaked...wait! Her bed? The element of loyalty gazed around the room she was in. There she sat in a white bed, which was very uncomfortable. The walls and ceiling were a dull green color, and seemed to sag like they were made of...fabric! She was in a tent. But why?

She panicked in her mind as thoughts raced through her head. Who had placed her here? For what? Were they going to kill her?

Just then a unicorn walked in, his coat was pleasant cobalt and his mane had a light blue sheen. Rainbow noticed he wore a white coat. This must be the doctor. Before Dash could unleash her army of questions, the doctor opened his mouth.

"Ah, you're up. Good morning! I'm Dr. Mend. I'm a bone specialist. Anyway your right wing had a light fracture, nothing severe. Thanks to my magic you'll be back ready to fly in a day or two." Rainbow glanced at the bandaged wing. "I'm sure you're wondering where you are."

Rainbow Dash replied in the most condescending way she could. "Of course I want to know! Are you with the Republic's Army? Are you here to tell me I'm going to die? why should I trust you? Why..."

She was cut off by a gruff, deep voice coming from the tent entrance. "If we wanted you dead, we'd be burying you right now, if that. Why bother fixing you're wing, hm?"

The voice came from an older looking pony, walking to the right side of Rainbow's bed. He appeared to have a limp in his right hind leg. This stallion was tall, perhaps almost as tall as Princess Luna, and easily as well built as Big Macintosh. His charcoal coat and navy mane were covered by a dark blue military uniform and hat. This pony was obviously important. But what most intimidated the cyan pegasus was his left eye; it was covered by a black eye patch, shadowed by a vertical scar. He cleared his throat.

"We mean you no harm here, girl. You seem to have had a run in with some rather forceful ponies. You’re lucky I came and decided to pick you up in front of our little fort. You gotta name, rainbow-mane?"

The young mare responded as if insulted. "I am not gonna give you my name or any other information until you tell me who you are and what this place is!"

The doctor felt he was no longer needed and went to check on the other ponies in the tent. The large pegasus stared at Rainbow Dash with his good eye.

"Very well miss. My name is Cloudrunner. They call me General here. This place you've been fortunate enough to wind up in is the last stronghold of the Equestrian military. Here the remnants of the Kingdom's armed forces take refuge and train, for the...counteroffensive"

"So...this is like a freedom fighter camp?" Rainbow felt a tad less uneasy.

"Precisely. We've been here ever since Canterlot fell. The Rebels don't know our exact location, but I'm sure they've got us pretty much figured out. Every so often we shoot down some scouts flying overhead, and place them far away from here. I imagine that has bought us some time."

"So I'm in no immediate danger?"

"No, ma'am."

"What a relief!" Dash sighed and fell onto her bed, before instantaneously rising up. "Wait! So you're General Cloudrunner?? THE General Cloudrunner? As in 'the fastest Wonderbolt ever?' "

The General seemed to delight in his reputation. "Haha! Yes that was me, before I got a promotion."

"You were mind-bogglingly fast! They called you the 'Night Phantom' because you know how your coat would blend with the night sky. I'm a huge fan! Could you show me some of your moves?"

The grey pegasus suddenly looked saddened by her request. "I COULD have, once."

"What do you mean?"

"Look." The General raised his right wing up, stretching it out as far as it could go. It was a large, wondrous wing that would have cast a majestic silhouette in the sky. But something was missing. There was only one. "I'm afraid I'm...grounded."

Rainbow Dash's face shifted to an empathetic expression. she had broken or injured her wings several times before, but they always healed up good as new. She never thought about losing her ability to fly.

After a moment of silence, the cyan pegasus spoke. "I'm...I'm sorry about that."

"Life goes on."

"What happened?"

"Information like that will be revealed on a need-to-know basis, rainbow-mane." His tone livened up. "Anyway, I told you who I am, so now it's your turn."

"Oh, yeah. My name is uh Rainbow Dash."

"Where do you come from? What did you do there?"

"I'm originally from Cloudsdale, but I've been living in Ponyville for several years now. I'm a weather pony."

"You live in Ponyville? Hmmmm" He trailed off in thought. "My condolences, miss Dash."

Rainbow started reminiscing about what had happened at the town last night. She had a million questions now for the grey pony standing at her bedside.

"Why did they do that...they said we were going to be evacuated. They killed so many...and.." She gasped, her eyes tearing up again. "My friends! What happened to them?"

Cloudrunner hesitated for a moment, then began, "I'm afraid to say that whatever those...Rebels told you, it was a complete lie. But i'm honestly shocked to hear they would stoop to such levels...taunting survival like that..."

"Why did they do it?!" Rainbow Dash restrained her temper.

"Because Ponyville was something special. You see, Miss Dash, the captured towns saw Ponyville as a sort of beacon of hope. Silently they dreamed of an Equestria where fear did not rule them. The Republic could not have that. In that symbolic act they destroyed the town, crushing all hope with it."

"And my friends?"

"War prizes...or dead."

"Wha...?"

"The population served little purpose to those brutes. The strong stallions could work in factories or farms, and toil for the 'good of the state'. But the weaker ponies were simply killed on sight. Foals are given over to the state houses for indoctrination. And mares...awarded to loyal soldiers...it's disgusting. Broken and beaten, they parade the capture through streets to tell other ponies what happens to those who dare to dream. Ponyville's people were raised to false notions of peaceful integration, and when that hope was about to be fulfilled, the enemy took it all away, and everything they loved. Now not only broken and beaten, the ponies also revel in absolute despair."

"No...No...It can't be... How could anypony be that cruel? How could anypony do that to my friends?"

"I ask myself that question every damn day."

"So you think you can stop it?"

"That's why we're all here. We've spent the last five month’s training whoever wanders into the fort, military or civilian. We engage in guerilla tactic, blowing up railroads, sabotaging factories and bases, planting mines, whatever we can do to harass them while we prepare."

"And when do you think you'll be ready?"

"The plans have been drawn up. We execute them in one month's time."

"Is there room in this army for me, General?" Rainbow Dash felt a new sensation of duty and loyalty to her friends. She was going to help then, if it was the last thing she would do.

"It’s hard enough to feed everypony here. This ain't a refugee camp. You wanna stay, you gotta earn your keep. You either become a soldier, or we gotta send you off."

The element of loyalty was tired of running. "When do I start?"

The General smiled. Unbeknownst to Rainbow, he was anticipating having the pegasus join his ranks. "When that wing is useful again, Cadet Dash" He saluted her.

Rainbow saluted back. "Sir yes sir!"

Chapter 7

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 7

"Alright you ponies! I want a straight line! stand nice and tall!" Rainbow Dash stood in a crowd of freshly uniformed recruits. Standing before them was the drill sergeant. He seemed to especially eye Rainbow. She couldn't quite figure out why. Was it her mane? Sure it was flashy, but the sarge needed to concentrate on his job, and...

In thought she didn't realize her stare lined up with the Drill officer, even when he wasn't looking at her. "Dash! The hell are you starring at? You lookin' at me? You think I look pretty? You got anything to say?"

The pegasus stood there, overwhelmed with indecision. Before she could open her mouth, the red sergeant earth-pony yelled some more. "Didn't think so! Now drop and give me twenty! And no wings!"

Immediately Dash hit the floor and did as she was told. Her usual brashness and independent nature was deterred by the forceful pony in front of Rainbow.

The drill sergeant, not wanting to seem overly fond of ordering just the pegasus, repeated the demand to the other recruits. The line of ponies went down as fast as their legs would let them.

This was followed by a lunch of whatever hays and flowers could be acquired. Rainbow sat down with her tray and quietly began eating. A reddish-brown unicorn mare came and sat beside her, trying to start up a conversation.

"So...what's your name?"

The pegasus was caught off guard. "...huh...oh...my name is...uh...Rainbow Dash. I'm new."

The unicorn smiled, "Nice to meet ya! I'm Clockwork. I work here as a mechanic, repairing vehicles and stuff whenever they need me. Wait! So you're Rainbow Dash, huh? I've heard of your sonic rainboom, though of course I didn't get to see it myself."

Rainbow's self-esteem suddenly spiked. "Yeah well it's nothing TOO special, just you know breaking the sound barrier and all." Modesty was not one of the pegasus' defining characteristics. In her boasting she accidently spilled a bit of cider on her new uniform.

"Uh-oh...your sergeant is gonna have your flank if he catches you with that stain."

"Oh man...let's see if I can't..." Rainbow dabbed the stain frantically, but the cider would not cooperate. Sighing she said, "I don't think I'm cut out for this. Maybe I should just quit..."

"Aw come on. You think any of us thought we could make it? My sergeant made me cry everyday my first week. He was relentless, but I stuck with it, and now I'm an important part of this army. Don't get discouraged."

Clockwork looked at the pegasus with the most sincere expression, and Dash realized how petty she was acting. She was a soldier now! It was time she started acting like it.

After lunch Rainbow began to explore the fort she would call home from now on. For the past two days she was not allowed to leave her bed, but now that her wing had healed, Rainbow was free to explore the outpost on her off duty time. All over, uniformed ponies shouted as they moved crates and unloaded trucks. The air was filled with hustle and bustle, and sounds of gun shots by the practice range. She occasionally spotted an artillery piece being hauled to who knows where.

It was not long since she had started walking around before it was time to return to her barracks. Rainbow was going to face the sergeant head on about the stain.

The ponies stood in a line as the terrifying earth-pony walked slowly, eyeing each recruit. When he got to Rainbow, a grimace overtook his face as he glared at the cyan pony.

"Dash! Looks like you've got a little trigger happy with your beverage! Do you know what this uniform represents? I'm means you got the backs of all others who wear it! Do you respect that, Dash? Apparently not! You cannot be bothered to keep it clean! do you hear me? You might as well have spit on it! You make me sick! What do you have to say for yourself?"

Taking all the reprimanding, Rainbow Dash stood up straight, chin turned upwards, "I am sorry, Drill Sergeant! The spill was an accident, and I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. I apologize for letting down my unit, sir!"

Then, something unheard of happened; the Drill Sergeant started to smile as he bellowed to the recruits, "You see? This is how a soldier responds to adversity! Learn from your mistakes!" the smiled faded back to a frown as he turned his head back to Rainbow Dash, "But remember, a dead pony cannot correct their mistake." He said in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.

Dash's punishment was to clean the barracks while the other soldiers were off eating dinner. By the time she was done, the sergeant recalled everypony to the line. Soon the unit was running laps around the walls of the fort.

"How much longer are we gonna do this, sir?" Rainbow Dash said panting.

"Every damn soldier will run ten miles every day! Keeps you all in shape! And no flying, Dash, or i'll personally see to it that those things are nailed to your sides!"

"...Yes sir"

After her ten miles were done, Rainbow retired to her bunk. She had only felt so tired once before, when she first arrived at this place. Now she plopped herself on the springy matress and closed her eyes. Rainbow drifted off to sleep...so peaceful...

It lasted not for three minutes. Her drill sergeant came in, and ordered the barracks' occupants to stand at attention. He slowly walked forward, before stopping once again at the cyan pegasus. In a calm voice, he addressed Dash, "You, Rainbow. The General wishes to speak to you. The rest of you, get some sleep. We rise bright and early in the morning." Without another word, the other ponies climbed back into bed, as the sergeant left.

Rainbow Dash cursed as she walked to the General's office. She was wide awake however, anxious at what the large pony had called her for. Knocking on his door with her hoof, a gruff voice replied "Come in." Dash slowly stepped inside the small building, and stood in front of the officer's desk, standing up straight. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

Cloudrunner leaned forward, looking at the pegasus. "Yes, miss Dash. If it's not too much trouble, why don't you let me know how your first day was, hm?" His question was oddly parental.

"Um...yes sir, well we did some drills, we ran, I got in trouble for a stain and had to clean..."

"And your sergeant?"

"He's..uh...well he's doing his job, though it seems he's got it in for me...uh..sir."

"You feel he is being overly harsh on you, and just you?"

"Yes sir."

"Haha! Good." Rainbow looked perplexed.

"I...I don't get it. That's not fair, General. I mean he should treat us all the same! so why are you happy with him singling me out?" Her temper was loosening.

"Because, I told him to."

"wha...?" She was even more confused.

"Rainbow Dash, I have plans for you. You have a lot of potential, but we don't have much time to unlock it. A month is all we got. In that time you will be molded into an officer, if you so choose. But! That'll require discipline, perseverance, willpower. You can back out now and be a regular soldier, which there is no shame in, but i know you can do more."

Rainbow’s thoughts raced with apprehension. she hadn't come here expecting this offer. She didn’t think she was special enough. The General saw her face, and began speaking again.

"I understand you're reluctance, but rest assured you are better than you give yourself credit for. Dash, I saw you at the Best Young Fliers Competition. I hadn't seen a pony fly so fast since, well, myself." He chuckled a bit as he said this. "You are the element of loyalty, yes? A natural born leader too, if I might add. You got what it takes. What do you say?"

The mention of the competition tapped her deep ineptitude, that of never getting to be a Wonderbolt. "That’s all very flattering, but I didn't even get into the Won..."

"The Wonderbolts, yes. Showponies, really. Good fliers. They petitioned to have you join them, or at least replace one if they retired. But I intervened." The cyan pony stared blankly as he admitted to killing her dreams. She wanted to wring his neck right there, but knew he could probably pin her down with one hoof if he wanted to. Besides, his next statement alleviated the news.

"Forgive me, I know how much you wanted to join, but i had other plans. I told the air force to consider accepting you into the Royal Air Force Academy. I wanted you as an officer. the paperwork just needed to be processed, but then war broke out and the bureaucrats ground to a halt. When I first saw you laying in the dirt out in front, I suspected it was you, and when you told me your name, I gained some hope. But I was truly overjoyed when you volunteered to join us. Imagine, the fastest pony in the world fighting for us! Suddenly this war became a little easier."

Rainbow Dash calmed down and kick the ground, bashfully looking down. "Thank you sir. I'm honored you wanted me. But I'm still not convinced I’m the pony for the job. I’ve never fired a gun or flown into battle. I’m not made tough stuff." The usually proud pony shied away from the limelight. She acted tough around her friends, but she certainly wasn't soldier material.

"Well then. I think you should come with me. There's somepony I'd like you to meet."

The two walked outside, and walked towards a concrete bunker-like building. The General reached for his keys and opened the door. He gestured Rainbow inside and led her down some stairs, to another locked door. Inside were lamps and food supplies, as well as bookshelves and a couch. Rainbow opened her mouth. "What is this place?"

"You'll see." He smiled, turning his attention to the room. "You have a visitor"

A shape came up off the couch. Walking towards the door was a dark blue pony, with a long flowing mane of a starry blue color. Above her long horn sat a black crown. Her wings flapped as she stretched them. She looked straight at Rainbow, who was astonished by the pony's appearance.

"It's..it's..." The element of loyalty struggled to utter a word.

Cloudrunner bowed slightly. "Princess Luna."

Chapter 8

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 8

Luna stared at the mare that stood before her. She took a good, long look. Who was she? Cloudrunner had interrupted the regal pony's reading, and she had just started the climax of the story. Obviously this pegasus was important enough to warrant the intrusion. Then it hit her!

That rainbow-colored mane, those rose eyes, the cyan coat. It could be no other. "RAINBOW DASH! 'TIS GRAND TO SEE THEE!!" Luna's voice boomed across the room. The blue pegasus bowed at the mention of her name, shaken out of her initial shock after seeing the Princess.

Cloudrunner spoke up, in a very casual way, "Princess, we have talked about this, yes? Inside voice. And where's your dialect training?" The condescending tone of his was well meaning and playful.

The alicorn looked down and kicked a hoof. "Yes, forgive me. We..er...I was just excited to see a friend f Twilight Sparkle." She immediately looked up and smiled at the still bowing pony.

Cloudrunner tapped on Rainbow's shoulder and told her she could stand up. As soon as she did, Luna grabbed her and squeezed the breath out of Dash with a powerful hug.

The squished pony reciprocated the gesture. A minute later Luna set her down again. The Princess then looked at the General, with a stern look on her face. "Why did you not tell me the Elements of Harmony are here? I stay down here, and you tell me everything that goes on! Why I should..."

The grey stallion cut her off, "The Elements of Harmony are not present, majesty. I'm afraid to inform you that miss Dash was the only known survivor of the attack on Ponyville." His tone turned solemn. "We found her exhausted in front of the fort, with a fractured wing, two days ago."

Cloudrunner stood there, watching tears come from the two mares' eyes as they hugged again. Luna spoke through her sadness. "So..so.. does this mean the other 5 are..."

Rainbow Dash finally spoke. "No!..no...Princess. The others aren't dead...as far as I...No! They are alive! And I NEED to go save them!"

Luna stood up tall and met the General's one eye. Dash finally realized just how large this rough warpony was; the Princess actually had to look UP to do this. Addressing the officer pegasus, she gave him orders. "Five-Star General Cloudrunner, former Commander of the Equestrian Royal Air Force, before winning this war, you will locate and if possible personally assist in the rescue and proper rehabilitation of Twilight Sparkle, Rar..." She struggle somewhat with remembering the names, "Rarity, Pinkie...pie, Applejack, Flutter..Flutterby...FlutterSHY! Do We...I make myself clear?"

The General gave a large grin, and saluted with his hoof. "Crystal your highness! Either we find them, or there's gonna be hell on Earth!"

"EXCELLENT!! I KNOW THOU SHAN'T DISAPPOINT US!!" The night mare let her Royal Canterlot Voice slip out.

"Thank you, Princess!" Rainbow Dash hugged her diarch again and turned to talk to the General. "Now...uh..sir. Why did you bring me here, exactly?"

"Because I think you needed to know about the Princess. We keep her down here so as to avoid any unnecessary attention. Those damned rebels would LOVE to get their hooves on Luna, and we have to keep her presence secret. Why, I doubt half of all the ponies here even know the Princess is down here."

"Yes, and this is not acceptable! I should be out there, aiding my ponies in any way I can!"

"In due time, Princess. You will have your chance. Trust me."

"I do, as my sister did. For now I'll read my books."

Rainbow Dash perked up. "Wait, that reminds me! Where is Celestia?"

The alicorn turned her head as a tear formed in her eyes again. Even Cloudrunner had a drop hit the floor. Rainbow figured it took a lot to make this pony cry. He finally spoke, "You don't need to concern yourself about that, kid. For now focus on the issue at hand."

"...Yes sir." Dash didn't want to bring up any emotional turmoil from the both of them. "So I know about the Princess now. I think I should go to..."

"Oh no you don't. I've got something I wanna tell you."

The cyan pegasus sighed and sat down on the couch, with Luna following suit.

"Now," he began, "You tell me you don't think you've got what it takes to make it in this army. Well, that's a load of crap if I ever did hear one. Kid, I was there before, quite recently in fact. After my accident I felt useless, I mean, what good is a pegasus that can't fly? Ponies told me I didn't have a place anymore, or that I should be cooking meals or washing sheets. They told me I was worthless now. And I believed them. Life was meaningless without flying, or running, or even depth perception," He pointed to his eye patch, "I developed a drinking problem, even looked to my gun for an escape."

Rainbow Dash looked at him with the utmost sympathy, through her watery vision. How awful it must be to have lost the one thing you loved most; flying. Luna wiped a tear from her eye before speaking, "Oh Cloudrunner you couldn't! You ma..."

The General cut her off yet again. "Let me finish, Princess. I had another problem, but it wasn't a lost wing or eye or limp. You see I let other ponies tell ME who I was, not the other way around! I let them convince me I was somepony with no purpose. I was told to resign, go home. I was 'finished'. But I couldn't. I had a purpose. I swore an oath the day I enlisted so long ago. I would do everything I could to protect Equestria and its inhabitants! As long as I’m still alive, I'll stand by that promise! And no force on Earth, Heaven, or Hell is gonna stop me!" He took a deep breath, cooling off from his proclamation, "And now I vow to save your friends. Even though it looks bleak, I will never give up. Every night I come down here to check on the Princess, and every time I look at her beautiful mane, I see those stars, reminding me of what I'm fighting for; I'm fighting to see those magnificent stars again, to see the sun shine down on a warm spring day, not those artificial lights the rebels built. I see in that starry mane," He held a bit of the flowing mane in his hoof, "a twinkle of hope."

Rainbow looked at the mane, as did Luna, and both smiled. Who knew the General was such a passionate stallion. He gave Luna her hair back, and turned to Rainbow, smiling like a father.

"I was once the fastest thing in the sky. But fate has separated me from that. I dare you to do better. I tell you again the road will be hard, but what you receive at the end, nopony will ever be able to take from you.”

Rainbow stood up, a bit shaky from the emotion of it all. She saluted her CO, "the Element of Loyalty NEVER abandons her friends, and now she'll never abandon Equestria! Sir!"

Dash could now see Cloudrunner's right eye water up, and before she could react, he lunged forward and gave her an embrace. Rainbow returned it, now overjoyed at everything.

The three sat in the bunker for a bit and chatted, drank some tea. The General noticed the clock.

"I think it is time for you to get to bed, Private! Long day tomorrow, though nothing you can't handle."

"Yes sir! I'll be ready for duty bright and early!"

"Good! Move out!"

Rainbow Dash flew out of the bunker and to her barracks, and settled down in her bunk, closing her eyes. Her new inspiration gave her grand dreams, dreams she hope would become reality.

The General bid Luna farewell and began up the stairs. Luna stopped him halfway up.

"Wait! Cloudrunner! I...It was not your fault. Celestia..."

"Absolving me of blame will not fix the problem. I cannot redeem myself, but I can make it right. Goodnight, Princess." With that he walked up to the door and closed it.

Luna sat alone, weeping silently on her couch "It should have been me..."

The General limped to his office and sat down in his chair, deciding to take car eof a few things before bed. A guard came in.

"Sir! Drill Sergeant Napalm requests to speak with you!"

"Let him in."

"Sir!"

A red earth pony came in, saluting before he opened his mouth. "Cloudrunner, are you sure about this...Rainbow dash? I'm not certain she'll be officer material, even when I’m done with her. Also she's a bit of a crier."

The grey pony looked up from his desk. "A little emotion never hurt anypony. There is something very special about her, all she needed was a reason and inspiration. She already had a reason. I gave her the inspiration. Even so, continue to single her out. Iron needs to be hammered to forge a blade. Dismissed"

The sergeant saluted and headed out. He wasn't sure what fixated his CO about this pegasus, but he would carry out his orders. He walked to his tent, retiring for the night.

Cloudrunner turned off his lamp and got up, going towards his bed. Before he laid down he thought about Rainbow Dash.

"And my what a sharp blade she'll make"

Chapter 9

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 9

Grey filled Twilights newly opened eyes, dusty and cold. Lying sideways she stared at a barred window high above the floor. Twilight Sparkle tried to get up and inspect the melancholy room, but was stopped by a sharp pain, like a dagger being sunk into her forehead. She moved a hoof to touch her horn, but immediately retreated at the pain. When she looked at the dried blood on her hoof, she realized what had happened.

Her horn was gone.

Tears streaming from her face she turned around, only to see four piles, their nature betrayed only by their faint breathing. Fighting through the pain from her severed horn she rushed the nearest mound. The orange mass stirred as Twilight placed a hoof on the scars covering the earth-pony's back. Whips, no doubt, she thought. The pony got up, roused from her sleep by the pain.

"Wha...Twilight? Twilight you're ok! But...uh...you're horn..." the element of Honesty instantly regretted her statement.

"I know Applejack. It doesn't matter right now. Is your back alright?."

"Ah'll get through it. C'mon. Let's check on the others."

The two walked to the white unicorn. So too was her horn reduced to a stump, and her mane tattered and messy, so unlike her usual appearance. Applejack gently nudged her, causing an eye to open.

"Oh Apple...owww!" Rarity squealed at her horn, touching it and squealing again at the horrible realization. "What happened to my beautiful horn?"

"We'll answer that once all of us are up, sugarcube."

Twilight then put a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder and looked at her flat, straight mane. She opened her blue eyes and gazed at the purple unicorn, her expression just screaming "Why?". The three other ponies hugged the depressed, once so happy pony as tears flowed from them all. After what seemed like an eternity, they all turned around and saw their other friend.

As they got closer, very faint whimpers could be heard from a yellow pegasus, curled up in a pool of tears.

Rarity knelt down. "It's alright Fluttershy, you don't have to be alone." The element of generosity whispered in the most pleasing voice she could. The crying pony wiped her tears and immediately embraced the alabaster unicorn. The other three followed suit.

"Fluttershy, are you ok? Are you hurt?" Twilight hoped she would not frighten the timid mare.

"No I'm not. But you all seem to be." She looked empathetically at the broken horns and back scars, trying so hard not to start crying again. She raised her wings, stripped of all their feathers. "This is all."

"I'm just glad we're together." Pinkie uttered.

For a few minutes the looked around the room, trying to remember what happened. Then it finally hit Twilight. She remembered riding on the truck, then being escorted away with her friends. She recalled a dark room with tools and instruments, and shady stallions yelling, she could not remember what. Then a hit on the head, and darkness. Around this time the other four remembered too.

The group shared a glance of sorrow, uncertain of what happened to their other friends, and...and...Rainbow Dash! What had happened to her?

They tried to find a way out, but to no avail. Their cell was truly large, and they just noticed to bars facing the hallways. No guards could be seen. They turned to a dark corner, and the closer the five got, the louder a wheeze could be heard. When the came fully to the corner, all of them looked in horror and astonishment at what the ponies saw before them.

A large white pegasus with a pink, blue, purple, and green mane, short and ragged.

"Princess!!" the five yelled in unison. Their smiles faded as the once regal pony struggled to raise her head. They all saw the battered mess that once ruled Equestria, but none was more horrified than Twilight Sparkle. She was devoid of her crown, shoes and necklace, her wings too were naked, feathers plucked. Large red bruises littered her legs and body. She shook trying to stand, but fell down almost instantly. Her tail was cut, just like her once majestic mane. The alicorn was now a pegasus. On top of her head was no horn, not even a stump. Just a red spot, surrounded by dried blood.

Celestia opened her mouth and weakly said, "M...my...little...ponies. Are...you..." But she could not finished. Her face cringed at the pain in her ribs, forcing her to take short, quick breaths. Her head collapsed back on the ground, and the solar diarch began to sob.

Twilight sat down next to the princess, nuzzling her head against the princess. Celestia gave a smile and put a featherless wing around her pupil. The other four sat down in front, enjoying the company of the princess. Using all her strength, the alicorn whispered, "I'm so sorry..."

Before anypony could respond, they all heard the sound of hoofsteps getting louder. They looked out into the hall and saw a earth-pony stallion wearing a green military uniform. His chest was adorned with countless medals and ribbons. He was accompanied by two other ponies, both wearing a similar uniform, though not nearly as decorated.

He leaned his head close to the bars.

"I see Celestia, and five other ponies. There are six elements of harmony, correct?" His voice was cool and collected.

"Yes sir. The sixth was shot down outside of Ponyville. Pegasus identified as Rainbow Dash is deceased." A subordinate replied.

The sixth cellmates' eyes widened in horror.

"I would have preferred her alive, but it might be better this way. Now they cannot use the elements of harmony."

Applejack spoke up, fury in her voice. "Just who the hell do ya'll think ya'll are? Ah demand to know why we're here and what ya'll did to us! And the Princess! And where's my hat!"

The stallion glared at the orange pony. "Miss Applejack is it? You are here because you represent the elements of harmony. Magic is very dangerous. I will have you contained so you will not disturb my ponies with your volatile practices. You see I am the Premier of the Democratic Republic of Equestria, and it is my job that its ponies are safe and secure." The stallion's words shocked the ponies. It was him! The pony behind the whole war! He was just a regular earth-pony! Each of them wanted with all their heart to bring him to justice. A barred wall stopped them.

He continued. "And to ensure we understand each other, I have ordered that each of you be convinced. So the unicorns had their horns removed, the pegasus her feathers, and the earth-ponies, whipped. Celestia was special. You're horns will grow back, the bases remain. The feathers will grow back as well, and the scars will heal. If you decide to take my kindness for granted, take a look at your 'Princess'. She can barely move, or even breathe. An immortal being such as her is not so easily beaten, so we had to take precautions. Her horn grows back far too quickly, even when we chop off the base. So stay down her and behave, or you will be sorry."

The Premier's speech stung all the occupants of the cell. How could anypony be so cruel? Fluttershy boiled with rage. She let it get the better of her, and soon exploded. In a flash of adrenaline, before he could even react, the normally kind pony lashed out with a hoof and rammed it straight into the stallion snout. Blood flowed forth freely and he clutched his nose and cried in pain. His calm demeanor quickly devolved into one of anger.

"It seems we did not all understand! Very well ponies! You shall know my wrath soon enough. The yellow one is first. Guards!" He yelled at the two officers besides him. "What are you still doing here! Don't you have ponies to order around! Go! Now!"

Three guards came down, saluting to the Premier. "Yes yes at ease! You may now take the shift. The yellow pegasus has insulted me." A sinister smile covered his face as the most powerful pony in Equestria walked off, still holding his bleeding nose.

One guard opened the door as the two others aimed their guns at the ponies. The guards grabbed Fluttershy. She fought back fervently but the guard kept hit her until she stopped. The last thing the five cellmates saw was her being drug off, tears soaking her pink mane. The three guards went away, leaving everypony sobbing, wondering what would happen to their dear friend.

The Premier sat at his desk as a secretary informed him of an officer requesting to speak. A large earth-pony came in, saluting his superior. "Marshal Powderkeg. Good to see you. What can I do for you?

"Sir, still no sign of the rebel stronghold. Some officers even doubt the existence of one."

"So they say these rebels are just anarchists who answer to nopony?"

"Well...I suppose if you..."

"Have they found the bodies of Luna or Cloudrunner? What about Rainbow Dash?"

"No sir, but we have called off the search. They bodies of the first two would be long gone."

"Then how do I know they are dead? These rebels attack in a very systematic way. They just cannot be independent. They’ve blown up my railroads and shoot down scouts. Guerillas, but there is reason to it all."

"Perhaps it is diamond dogs or..."

"We have driven the diamond dogs far underground, taught them to fear us. We have exterminated the changelings. Chrysalis' head sits over my fireplace. The dragons are gone. We caused them to flee. I'm certain they're ponies. But they're too fast. Once we realize what they have done, the perpetrators are nowhere to be seen." The Premier trailed off, somewhat gloating. He snapped back onto topic. "Are we sure those two are dead?"

"One of my generals personally affirms that Cloudrunner and Luna were killed. He says he saw them fall. nopony could have survived."

"Perhaps he misjudged their fall distance."

"I do not think so." Powderkeg was stunned at his audacity to disagree with the Premier.

"Well I'll trust you, Marshal. Though Luna dying, it just doesn't seem plausible. You recalled how much we tried to kill Celestia?"

"Yes sir. But even so, she insisted Luna was not immortal, even when we tortured her." The Marshal's eyes lowered in shame.

"True true. Well, continue to look for that stronghold. And at any rate, Rainbow Dash is useless without the other elements of harmony."

"Yes sir!" Powderkeg saluted and left, sighing that he did not anger his boss.

The Premier looked at his map on the wall, marked with various pins and strings. "Equestria is now mine. I gave them a week, and they did it in two days. But absolute victory eludes me. All of the country's governments answer to me, every citizen is safe and sound, working for the greater good. But those damn rebels! They threaten all I've strived to accomplish."

He sat back, eyeing his map, fiddling with a pen. News of the deaths of Luna and Cloudrunner eased his concerns, but then the attacks started to happen. Hundreds of pounds of ammunition and artillery, food and clothing just gone. His anxiety grew. Now he isn't certain his two biggest threats are indeed deceased. The rebels had to be found. They sowed dissent just like Ponyville did. The premier would not have his perfect country spoiled by these ponies. His dream would endure, no matter how much blood had to be spilled.

Chapter 10

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 10

Salads, apples, pies, and cakes littered the dining table. All these delicacies were skillfully crafted by the most famous chefs in all of Equestria. But for all their skill in the culinary arts, each chef stood anxiously next to the diners, hoping the food was satisfactory.

The Premier was very particular about his food.

"Simply delicious! Yes! Chefs, do bring more." The emerald pony gestured to his dinner guests to try the food. Nervously they picked up the silver cutlery and tasted the meal. Delight-filled "mmmm"s came from the table. The Premier took a sip from his favorite wine.

A maroon unicorn spoke up, the Minister of Technology, "Sir, the ministry has informed me that they are very close to discovering the magic needed to raise and lower the heavenly bodies. The 'sunlights' and 'nightlights' will no longer be necessary."

The Premier swallowed before responding. "Haha excellent! You know those lights use a lot of electricity. And I'm sure we all are tired of those things. I myself do enjoy the moonlight."

"As do we all sir." said a chestnut pegasus, the Minister of Industry. "The energy saved will no doubt greatly increase productivity."

"I should hope so. It is your charge." He smiled and took another bite of salad.

Soon a young unicorn wearing a black suit and glasses ran into the room. "Mr. Premier! Terribly sorry to interrupt, but I have urgent news."

"What could be so urgent as to disturb my wonderful meal? Well let's hear it." He gave the colt his full and undivided attention.

"Uh...well...another t-train has b-been r-raided...sir." His voice trembled in fear.

"Oh great." He rolled his eyes. "Is this truly important? Nothing new. Well anyway how much was lost this time? And relax please. You're annoying us all"

"A-an...excuse me...an unprecedented amount..."

"Wha..how much??" The Premier grew concerned, uncertain as to what the magnitude was.

He looked at his report and read off the contents. "Train 24, from Manehattan to Canterlot lost three cars in raid. These items were taken: fifty-one crates of ammunition, four pieces of artillery, two trucks, one piece of railroad artillery, twenty bombs, and three heavy bombs."

"Did you say THREE heavy bombs? AND railway artillery!" His struggled to regain his composure. "It's true, you can't enjoy a good meal in Canterlot." he chuckled, and turned to his Minister of War. "Prepare the troops. I have no more patience to merely sit here and wait to find the rebel base. We will sweep in a straight line across the country. All the way to the western border."

"Yes sir!" the minister saluted. He tried to get up before being stopped by the Premier.

"You may finished your meal first."

"Of course, sir."

"Cloudrunner!" Celestia called out, held by two soldiers. The General ran as fast as he could, but he still couldn't manage to go anywhere. Instead he felt two other ponies grabbing his forelegs, while a larger pony held his jaw.

"You will watch this!" The larger pony told him.

Cloudrunner couldn't move, or even close his eyes. All he could do was look on his beloved princess in horror as the two ponies that held her beat her. Soon the larger pony took a dull knife and sawed of the alicorn's great horn. Cries of pain filled the General's ears. He began to cry, yelling Celestia's name over and over; nothing changed.

The larger pony commanded the soldiers to let go of the Princess, and smiling said, "Time for some sport." He pushed the alicorn onto her back and leaned closer. Her eyes turned to Cloudrunner, pouring tears. The officer pony laughed and the next thing the charcoal pegasus heard was a loud shriek from Celestia. Then...

Cloudrunner awoke in a cold sweat, his heart pounding. He looked to his left at a picture on his bedside, a picture of him and his beloved Princess. He got out of bed, and proceeded to take a shower.

He brushed his teeth and got dressed in his blue uniform everypony came to associate him with. It was early, and he could use the time to see Luna. she was always starved for company. On his way to the bunker, Cloudrunner passed by a tent. He peaked inside and smiled at what he saw: a cyan pegasus sleeping soundly. She'd get up in an hour or so. "She's gonna go far..." he thought as he limped away, thinking about all the progress she's made.

He approached the bunker and got out a key, opening the door. Inside he called for Princess Luna. There she was, lying asleep on her couch. He quietly sat down on a chair and waited for her to wake up. Not ten minutes later to opened an eyes, sat up and stretched, before turning to Cloudrunner. Still groggy, it took a few seconds for her to realize that somepony had come into her abode.

"Cloudrunner! What are you doing in my personal chambers, pervert?" She was caught severely off guard.

"I came to keep you company, if that's alright."

"While I am sleeping is hardly an appropriate time to visit. Beside, why are you awake so early?"

The General hesitated to answer, and looked down. The Princess knew all too well what that meant.

"You had that dream, didn't you?"

"I didn't come here to bother you with my issues." Cloudrunner hated it when he would impose his problems on other ponies.

"I do not mind. You are my friend, and I am glad to listen to whatever you have to say."

"I don't wanna reject your friendship. It's funny how the mind can create realities so vividly. This dream is a product of regret, a cruel reminder of what I couldn't do." The General sighed, losing himself to his thoughts.

"You couldn't do anything then, but you are doing something now. All these ponies look to you for leadership, and you give it to them. When we win, my sister will herald you as her savior, as Equestria's savior!"

"You know I'm too modest to accept such credit." They both laughed "Princess I know you long to play an active part in this war, and you may have to sooner than we thought."

"What do you mean?"

"I have a feeling we're running out of time. Just a...feeling."

"I'll be ready whenever you need me." The Princess saluted.

"Haha and don't worry, when that day comes, I'll transfer command to you."

"Agreed." She smiled and gave her general a hug, then sat him down again. "How is your protégé, Rainbow Dash?"

"She's been here almost three weeks, and has performed admirably. Already I'm personally training her to be an officer. I’m honestly amazed at her progress."

"I should expect nothing less from an element of Harmony."

The two remained sitting in the bunker, conversing, discussing information the Princess needed to know about. Before they knew it, it was time for Cloudrunner to leave. He got up and went to the stairs.

"Farewell Princess. I do so enjoy our meetings. But I have to get ready for Dash's training"

"Of course, General! Goodbye, and good luck." She waved as he closed the door. "Oh sister I'm so jealous."

Cloudrunner walked to his apprentice's tent. He looked at his watch. "6:59 am"

A minute later he heard a yawning and the sounds of stretching, and then a blue pegasus lazily moved outside.

"Rise and shine, cadet! You got a full day of training!"

"Yeah...yeah..." she said, followed by unintelligible mumblings. She was never ready to start the day, but Rainbow Dash knew she had to. "Let's get this over with." she thought, and slowly walked over to the showers, prepared for the ice bath she would receive. "Let's get this over with."

Chapter 11

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 11

"Come on Rainbow, just a few feet more! You can do it." The blue pegasus had been trying relentlessly for the past week to beat a record. Her mentor's record. No matter how fast she went, no matter how hard she flew, she was always a second or too away. Cloudrunner wasn't kidding about being the fastest thing in the sky.

She crossed the mock finish line etched in the dirt. The General stopped the watch. Rainbow's heart raced in anticipation. Was this going to be the time? Did she finally beat it??

The charcoal officer pony opened his mouth, and crushed Rainbow's hopes, knocking her off her pedestal in one decisive sentence. "I'm afraid you're off by 1.5 seconds." Rainbow Dash, exhausted from flying all morning, was already having difficulty standing. This soul-crushing news was the straw that broke the camel's back. She collapsed into the dirt, reveling in her own despair.

Cloudrunner's heart ached at seeing his protege like this. Leaning down, he placed a hoof on her shoulder. "I can't do it. I've lost to you." Her voice was muffled in the ground.

"Dash, you only lose if you give up. I believe in you, and you believe in yourself, I'm sure."

Raising her head up she smiled. Looking at the General's injuries always made Rainbow feel petty when she complained. "At least I can fly." she thought. The large stallion helped his student up with a hoof.

"Now! Time to train, cadet."

"Sir yes sir!" Rainbow's leg automatically saluted now.

Rainbow Dash's progress in her training astonished all those who drilled her. Sergeant Napalm had watched her go from a doubtful soft pony to a regimented soldier. By the end of her week of basic training, Rainbow had outperformed the rest of her nit at the gun range, firing the quickest and most accurately. Never again did she spilled cider on her uniform, and did her drills flawlessly. After her unit ran ten miles every night, Dash would run another ten out into the woods, and fly the other ten back. She had bested her teacher in hand-to-hand combat, and even earned a medal for "Outstanding Achievement in Training."

The second week was flying. She wanted to be an airpony. So her next sergeant had Rainbow flying all the time, learning formations and maneuvers. She was taught how to properly deploy bombs and shoot while airborne. In this leg of training too she was the best in her unit. Flying camp was her favorite, not the least because of a fateful encounter with someponies she thought had perished in the war.

The Wonderbolts.

Famed fliers Spitfire and Soarin' were the ones in charge of training the soldier ponies in military flight. Rainbow rose early every morning to see her idols, and stayed up late very night to talk and even for private flying lessons. By the end of the second week she had flown faster and farther than either airpony. Once that happened, Cloudrunner knew it was time for the next phase; officer training.

The General knew it took years to properly induct a pony into the officer corps, but he didn't have that kind of time. To compensate, he personally oversaw Rainbow Dash's training, mentoring her in the arts of strategy, tactics, and commanding. He was sure he could mold the cyan pony into a capable commander.

"Now remember, cadet. Seemingly random attacks can lull the enemy into thinking there is not method to your madness. Deception is a key part of war. Make them think you're going left when you're actually going right." He lectured as he played his chess piece. "Checkmate."

"What! H..How? But my...what?" Rainbow had become a competent chess player over the week, and beaten many officers in her off duty hours. But while training, she had to play Cloudrunner. He had won every single time, the most recent time by making Rainbow concentrate on his Queen while forgetting about the rook lying in wait. "Ooooh now I see. Damn I should've paid attention to that. But I almost had your knights!"

"Haha true!" The General laughed as he took a sip of water. "Another diversion. I made you think I was in retreat, that you had me cornered in that particular sector. That feign made you arrogant. Sloppy. And that lead to your downfall."

"Whatever! I saw the look in your eye. You were scared I'd take them away." Rainbow was never content without pointing out her victories.

"Yes I was, but I didn't back down. I assessed the situation and made my moves accordingly to reverse it." He leaned back in his chair with a smug smile.

Rainbow Dash put all the pieces back onto their original squares. "Best two outta three!"

Before Cloudrunner could agree, a pony came into the tent. "General sir! We've hit up another train! The contents are just outside."

The two got up out of their seats and went to the congregated mass of ponies, busy unloading crates and cataloging contents. As the General walked to a unicorn levitating a clipboard. She saluted and read the items recovered.

"Sir we have fifty one crates of ammunition, mixed between regular rifle and artillery shells. Charge bags for the howitzers too. Four new pieces of artillery. TWO extra trucks. Fuel cans were inside. Also twenty bombs, three 'dragonroasters', and there was a railway gun. But it was blown up. Too heavy to move but to valuable to leave intact."

"Excellent Steno! Three heavy bombs huh? Oh...nonono. They're building up. They plan to attack us soon."

"Sooner than we think. Scout have spotted at least three divisions amassing near Canterlot. Estimates say we have a day or two."

"Damn! Tell all the officers. Have them mobilize their units. We leave tomorrow at 8 o'clock sharp. That's an order!"

"Right away, General!" Steno quickly ran off to alert the officers.

Cloudrunner turned to the crowd and announced his orders. "Everypony! We need to get ready! Start loading the trucks! Consolidate everything into crates! Hitch up artillery! Your officers will be available shortly if you need any help. Come on, we've got work to do!" At once everypony got to business, carrying out the General's orders. He turned again to Rainbow Dash. "It seems your training has been cut short, but I think you're ready. Now it's time to introduce you to the unit I've arrange to have you command."

The recently appointed officer pegasus recoiled at her new responsibility. "But...but sir I thought I was gonna be more of..a lieutenant or something. Are you sure I can command?"

"My dear Rainbow, you give yourself too little credit. You're a natural born leader. I've heard of what you did, rallying Ponyville's pegasi to create that tornado. Now go meet your unit. That's an order!

Rainbow Dash giggled at this praise. "Yes General. Um...but where?"

"Check your tent. They should be over soon."

So Rainbow Dash ran off to her own tent, one of the perks to being an officer-in-training, or former rather. There she impatiently waited to see what battle-hardened soldiers she would have to order around. A few minutes passed, and the pegasus laid on her bed, fiddling with her uniform's tie. Just then an all too familiar voice called out, "Captain! Captain!"

Rainbow Dash stepped out an stood, mouth agape at what she then saw, for the ponies expecting her to lead them were none other than the Wonderbolts. "Oh. My. Gosh!" Her wings stuck out in excitement. "You're here to tell me the General made me you're guys' captain??"

Soarin' spoke up. "Yeah Rain...er I mean sir...ma'am! Though technically we aren't Wonderbolts right now. Just a squadron of airponies."

"That's right. And I'll be your Lieutenant. Let me just say It'll be an honor to fly into battle beside you, Captain." Spitfire spoke to Rainbow Dash as a friend, a consequence of their time a week ago. "Now I believe the General gave all his officers orders, hm?"

"O..Oh. yeah! Let's get to work! We're off to the garage! Move out!" Rainbow Dash was still nervous, but toughened up and ordered her new troops.

At the garage sat dozens of trucks, each being driven outside and loaded up. Mechanics carried out repairs and refueling. Rainbow Dash and her unit her put to work by the garage chief. For the next few hours all the armories, barracks, and offices would be liquidated, their contents placed into boxed and crates and loaded up on trucks. All the artillery was hitched to the backs of vehicles. Dinner was forgone so the food could be loaded as well. Anything of even minor military usefulness was gathered up.

During all this Cloudrunner would help, but first he had somepony to see.

He walked into the familiar bunker and walked down the steel staircase. He called out to his Princess. She came from another room, looking quite puzzled.

"General Cloudrunner! What brings you here? It's only 2 p.m."

"Princess Luna, rightful Co-ruler of Equestria," She was surprised hear him using a formal address. "I'm afraid we don't have as much time as we thought. Even as we speak, we are preparing to leave in the morning. I officially grant you command, your highness. It's time." He bowed.

How could it be time? Whatever the reason Luna decided it WAS time. She saluted Cloudrunner as he walked up that stairs. "Very well. I shall be ready soon. Be ready for my speech."

Princess Luna was partly astonished at her boldness. She hadn't acted like that since...Canterlot fell. She opened a wardrobe and looked at her royal blue uniform. It WAS time.

Everypony who saw her was absolutely stunned. Many eyes found themselves staring at the regal alicorn galloping to a platform, ready to give her speech. She hopped up and stood facing the crowd, distracted from their current tasks. She wore her uniform, studded with golden buttons, ropes, medals, and epaulets. She was nervous, but knew what she had to do. After what seemed like an eternity, she opened her mouth, prepared to use her Royal Canterlot voice, but instead opted for a less loud, but still powerful voice:

"Dear ponies, it is I, Princess Luna, Co-Ruler of Equestria. I am sure my presence is nothing short of surprising. You all must have thought I perished during the battle for Canterlot. In truth I have been here the whole time. Forgive me, my secrecy was a necessary security precaution. My loyal General, Cloudrunner has told me that you are ready to go to battle. I am here to tell you all, my fellow Equestrians, who fight for freedom, that I shall follow you into the fray! I have resolved myself to the same fate as you! I shall do all I can to aid in your preparing. The earth shall quake at our endeavor, for united nothing shall stop us! We fight for Equestria!" She saluted to the crowd.

Everypony stood, listening to her words. Many were still shocked by her sudden appearance. They looked around to see what their officers were doing. Nearly every single one of them was saluting back, especially their former supreme leader, Cloudrunner. They followed suit, and then an uproar of cheer emerged. Princess Luna could not help but smile.

Morale was higher than ever. Everypony now knew one of their Princess' still remained. By nightfall, all the trucks were loaded up, and everything was ready. Ponies were encouraged to go to sleep early, to be well rested for the morning.

Rainbow Dash however could not sleep, she was too anxious, excited, nervous. She was now the commander of her idols. They irony always gave her a shiver. She walked around, lost in her thoughts. Would they win? Would she ever see her friends again? While she imagined all the things the future held, a large pony appeared n the scene.

"General! Why are you here, shouldn't you get some sleep?"

"I could ask you the same. But I'm old enough to tell something’s on your mind. What's up, Captain?"

"Oh...just uncertain about...stuff. The war"

"We all are. And I don't know if we'll even win. But if we give it all we got, those rebel bastards will have one hell of a time shooting at us." He laughed. Dash did as well, though weakly.

They sat by a pond, looking up at the sky. Cloudrunner looked up. "I hope we'll get to see the stars soon. I always loved the starry night sky."

"Me too. Hey General, who are we fighting? I mean nopony in Ponyville had any idea what life was like on the other side, or who the leader was."

"The 'Democratic Republic of Equestria' is a vile mockery of the ideas preached by one insane pony. I don't know his name. He's just a regular earth-pony. From what I've heard he was jealous of not being able to fly, or use magic. He paid little regard to his own earth-pony talents. Anyway he was crazy enough to do something about it and charismatic enough to gather a following. That’s when the war started. He talked about a country where equality was king, so to speak. A republic was declared in their new base Fillydelphia. At first the only equality was political."

"From what I learned in school, a republic is a form of government were leaders are elected to represent their constituents. Did they become corrupt?"

The General was surprised this athletic little pegasus knew a thing or two about politics. He had heard Rainbow Dash was never one for such things. "Very much so. The war convinced the 'senate' to grant this pony emergency powers. A terrible move. As they gained ground, at our expense, he got more and more powerful. Next came economic equality. He took over industry for the war effort. We sort of did the same, but he took it to an extreme level. The elites, tycoon, bourgeoisie, proletariat, they were all made 'equal'. To ensure this, freedoms were curtailed and knowledge was restricted. But the time Canterlot fell, total social equality was enacted. Ponies were now forbidden to fly or use magic."

"Who was gonna stop them? I mean you can't tell a pegasus not to fly."

"Not without backing it up with force. Rebellious ponies were captured, detained, and 'cleansed'."

"What do you mean 'cleansed'?

"They had their horns of wings cut off." The General looked down, ashamed that ponies could do something so horrible.

Rainbow Dash was disgusted, offended, and above all else raging. "WHAT? How...how could they?? I feel so angry I could...calm down Rainbow...why didn't anypony stop the leader?"

"The Premier, as he is called, grew so powerful he could afford to disobey the senate. The military was his alone to control. Now the 'republic' is just a perverted shell of what it once was. It is just a tool with which an unstable ideologue can implement his so-called 'utopia'. His instruments of 'equality' spread only fear, oppression, ignorance, and suffering. That's why I fight, to remove that murderer, and restore Equestria to what it once was."

"If he's so evil, or corrupt, whatever he is, why do ponies still follow him?"

"He's so charismatic. His followers hang onto every word he says. Though many have become disillusioned because of what he's done, they put him on such a high place that they can no longer do anything about it."

"That's tragic. If I ever see him I'll plant a hoof in his jaw."

"He's got over a thousand angry ponies armed with guns wanting the same thing." He smiled, looking behind him at the fort.

"You got that right! Um...sir...I have another question. I wanna know...if you'd answer...what happened to you?" She had been dying to know, and now she had a moment when he wasn't busy training her or working on something else. But she wasn't sure how comfortable he was to be asked such a personal question.

"Well...I think you deserve to know."

"Really??...I mean thank you." she sat eagerly awaiting another story.

"Let's go back to the day Canterlot fell..."

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - A Twinkle of Hope

Celestia looked up, eyeing the rapidly growing horn, still rounded on the top. It had been nearly three weeks since they last came to "contain" her. She was overdue.

Twilight was the first to wake up, and immediately saw the look on her mentor's face. The alicorn had recovered enough to stand and speak, albeit weakly. The company of the regal pony helped the young unicorn and her friends make their time in prison bearable.

Twilight Sparkle walked over to the white princess.

"Is something wrong? I mean everything is wrong, but uh something looks to be bothering you."

Celestia quickly shook of her somber expression and smiled. "Oh nothing, Twilight. Um...well...wake the others. I need to tell you all something."

At once the lavender pony nudged all the sleepers. One by one each stood up, all asking why they were ripped from their sleep. Except Fluttershy; she said nothing.

They gathered in front of Celestia, attentive, eager to hear what she had to say. After a few moments she spoke. "My little ponies, I have tried my best to protect you from our captors. I'm very sorry I wasn't able to do more." The five ponies all bowed in sadness, tearing up. The most timid one was openly sobbing. "I'm so sorry...but you must do this one thing for me."

"Anything, Princess." replied Applejack, the best at keeping her emotions under control. The other four looked up, red-eyed, visually saying "Of course."

"I fear soon somepony will come for me, and me alone. No matter what they do, no matter what they say, please promise me you will not interfere."

"...but.." Twilight was pained to hear this.

"Promise."

"Yes, Princess." She went over to hug her beloved teacher.

"Yes ma'am." said Applejack

"...We will do as you command" surrendered Rarity

"...Okie dokie...lokie." Pinkie's mane was still flat and straight. No laughter came form this pony.

Fluttershy just nodded.

"Thank you, my little ponies." The six cellmates curled up together, and went back to sleep. Celestia stayed awake for a bit longer.

"Oh Luna, I pray you come soon."

Explosions littered the once regal walls of Canterlot Castle, now transformed into a fort, covered in guns, pelting the vast horde of ponies outside. Streams of bullets illuminated the night sky, more often than not taking a pegasus down. For three days the artillery barrage had been relentless, beating away at the most heavily defended place in Equestria.

Marshal Powderkeg galloped by his soldiers, barking orders. He needed to win this battle. Victory would mean a swift end to the war. Defeat, and all the Republic strived for would be all for not. Tanks advanced through the breach in the outer walls, firing away at machine gun towers and the Castle's own artillery guns. Infantry advanced on both sides, creating a bloodbath at Canterlot's gates. Pegasi dropped bombs overhead, paying no mind to friend or foe.

Celestia looked out the window of her tower, dressed in her royal blue uniform. She rushed to her officers. "Protect the anti-air guns at all costs! If they manage to destroy those, we're done!" Luna was always the most tenacious of the two, and flew outside, dodging gunfire, zapping the enemy tanks and pegasi with her powerful weaponized magic. Powderkeg had been trying desperately to shoot down the midnight alicorn. An entire squadron had been devoted to the sole task of taking her out. That squadron now lay on the ground, among the other mangled bodies of ponies; just more casualties of war.

And to make matters worse, he had to deal with the Night Phantom.

Unseen in the night, a single pegasus whizzed past, taking down scores of ponies during his sweeps. He commanded the squadrons, ordering them to bomb the enemy's flank. But he stayed behind, preferring to distract every flak and airpony from his troops, and instead go after him.

Cloudrunner could not be seen. His charcoal coat blended too well with the sky, and he flew so fast, as soon as he was noticed, he had already gone a hundred feet ahead. The only thing that betrayed the General was a trail of lightning left in his wake when he accelerated, striking fear into the hearts of anypony who saw it overhead. The "Night Phantom" was hunting.

Celestia ran her balcony. For all the defenses of the capitol city, for all the strong soldiers at her command, Luna and Cloudrunner, and the finest military staff. For all the rations and ammunition stored for years of siege, the rebels still penetrated into the financial district. Only the wall of the Castle itself lay between them and her. She knew th eouter wall wa slost, and recalled all troops back into the castle.

Some units preferred to stay and fight to the death. Retreating would only make them sitting ducks. Once all were in that were coming in, the gates were closed. Now a mighty throng of warponies, armed with guns tipped with bloody bayonets, stood ready for the finally push. Canterlot’s entire heavy ordinance was used up. The heavy bombs had been dropped. It only temporarily stopped the 50,000+ soldiers all hell-bent on taking Canterlot.

Everypony knew it was fruitless. Celestia gave the order to escape, retreat through the underground tunnels and rendezvous at an abandoned artillery fort to the west. Hundreds fled, vowing vengeance for the loss of their shining city. Three ponies remained, however, intent on fighting to the bitter end.

The inner wall had fallen. It was only a matter of minutes before soldiers arrived at the throne room.

"Luna, go! I'll hold them off!" Celestia stood ready to unleash her full power.

"We won't let thou do this! We leave together!"

"Then we won't have time. Go now, with the General! I'll buy enough time for everypony to escape." Celestia was charging her horn.

"But...but sister...thou won't have the strength to..." tears began forming in Luna's eyes.

"I know...dear sister you must lead our forces...take back Canterlot! I know you don't take orders from anypony but I command you to leave! Same for you, Cloudrunner!" The clopping of hoofs was now audible from outside the large double doors.

"...Very well sister...I SHALL come back! I...We love thee..." Luna prepared to leap out of the window.

"I love you too, Luna." The doors burst open just as the Princess of the Night and the General flew out. Celestia unleashed and unimaginable amount of magic, throwing back dozens of soldiers. She continued to beat away, but there were simply too many. After the fifth time of using her most powerful offensive spells, she collapsed, exhausted and defeated. A soldier then carried out his orders, and took a bayonet and SLICE! Celestia's large horn fell onto the marble floor, decisively ringing. Celestia closed her eyes, hoping she had indeed bought enough time.

All the escapers had long driven or flown into the forest, using the trucks stored in a secret garage on the ground. they would come to fight another day. Cloudrunner and Luna flew as fast as the could, pursued by a couple pegasi would caught sight of them as they left the castle. They fired their guns as the two weaved in and out, dodging all the fire. Or so they thought.

The General felt a sharp pain in his right flank, and momentarily distracted felt another coming from his left wing. Unable to continue, he fell to the ground. Luna scrambled down, but was cut short by a multitude of bullets peppering her regal form. She fell just like the former pony, her wings too perforated to function. The pegasi thought them as good as dead.

"Wait until I tell the Marshal!" One of them was a general, always living in fear of his superior. They flew off, confident the two remaining leaders of the Kingdom were dead.

Cloudrunner felt the air rush past his mane. If it were under different circumstances, he would have enjoyed the thrill. But he doubted he would survive. And worse he saw Luna suffer the same fate. He would die knowing he let down Celestia almost immediately after she gave the order. The grey pegasus closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable.

He expected a flat, hard impact, but instead met a much softer surface. A tree! It happened too fast to react, and he fell through the branches, until plunging 30 feet onto the ground, landing on his hurt wing. He yelped in pain and turned over to see his once glorious wing bloody and with bones sticking out, twisted beyond recognition. The General felt sorrow, dreading he may never fly again. But he snapped back into the present. "Luna!" He tried to run to find her, but was stopped by another pain, this time in his right flank. He took a bullet and now he couldn't run. Just perfect he thought. Limping he found Luna, laying in a pool of blood.

She struggled to get up, and by virtue of her near divine nature, he injuries would heal quicker than normal but still too long to just sit there. Cloudrunner pushed his head up under her and lifted the princess onto his back. She was shocked to see the injured pegasus help her.

"General! Thy wing! Thou art in no condition to walk, let alone carry us!"

"YOU are in no condition to walk, and we can't sit here much longer. And what have I told you about your dialect?" The General thought he would lighten the mood.

They continued on for about ten minutes, until Cloudrunner happened upon a small camp. It wasn't anything special, just a few soldiers sent to establish a perimeter. The leader looked up.

"Well well well, what do we got here? A damaged stallion and his poor mare. Kill him! Spare the mare."

Three warponies rushed the two. Luna was now strong enough to stand and used her magic on one. Cloudrunner drew a combat knife and lashed at another. The third was felled by a combination of the two. However, distracted by the three, neither noticed the leader come up and buck the princess in the head. she fell over, unconscious. Cloudrunner looked at the knock out alicorn and then at the aggressor. He drew his knife as well. The two stallions took to fighting.

The sergeant lunged at the pegasus, but missed. Again he swung, but only met the steel of the General's blade. The grey pony was becoming fatigued, weakened by blood loss. The third swung came, and Cloudrunner was too weak to stop it. The third time the knife hit something soft. It bled, and the General recoiled in pain. A cleaned cut had been made from his left brow down to his left cheek. He could not see the left side of his world.

He fell over, too weak to stop the kill. Or so his opponent thought. Leaning over to land the final blow, the leader pony failed to pay attention to the charcoal one's legs. He bucked him hard in the sergeant's chest, breaking his ribcage.

Picking up his knife, he limped over to the stunned colt. "...How dare you lay a hoof on Luna...say goodnight fuckface!" Slitting his throat, the sergeant choked on his own blood, trying to utter a curse. Cloudrunner payed no mind, and came to check on the princess.

He shook her awake.

"I give my thanks to thee...General..."

"Just doing my duty." Luna couldn't help but feel frustrated and happy about the stallion's modesty.

"Well let me carry thee...you."

"Thank you, Princess"

She walked through the woods, still a bit hurt from the bullets, some still lodged in her body. Luna knew sunrise would not come. But she was shocked to say the least when a light did indeed come. Large "daylights" could be seen in the distance, illuminating the area around them.

"There must be hundreds of them." She muttered, finally spotting the rendezvous point. "Now to get you some help."

She sincerely hoped the fort was friendly.

Chapter 13

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 13

"So the Princess carried you all night, all bloody and injured like that?" Rainbow Dash had stars in her eyes, mesmerized by the valiant tale.

"Mhm. I owe her my life. She keeps saying I don't need to honor my debt, but I ignore her." Laughing, the warpony returned to his story. "Anyway, she plopped me on a bed, and begged the doctors to treat me..."

A doctor looked at Cloudrunner grimly, knowing all too well the state he was in.

"Oh doctor, surely you can save him! His injuries are not life-threatening!" Princess Luna had come too far to let her General die now.

Dr. Mend sighed, turning his head towards the alicorn. "If we act quickly, he'll survive."

Luna's face lit up, but immediately switched back to worry at what the doctor had to say next.

"Unfortunately, his wing is clearly showing signs of infection. The infection will spread, likely killing you, General, unless we..."

"...Unless you what, Doc?" Cloudrunner was now well awake, eager to know what the "butchers" had to do to him.

"Unless we amputate. It is so gnarled and twisted, I see at least three clear open fractures, and pockets of dirt and mud. Princess, your charms only could do so much. You at least stopped any advanced hemorrhaging. He won't need a transfusion."

"Damn it! Well what are you waiting for? Get out the bone saws!"

"Right! Nurse get some pain killers, I recommend..."

"NO!..No...what do the other ponies in this tent have wrong with them?"

"Um...well a few have mild burns, advanced trauma, lodged bullets. Some even need skin grafts. I'm not sure how successful they would be, given our..." Dr. Mend felt he needed to be thorough to his CO.

"Save the drugs for those that need it. Now go on! Do it!"

"Are you su..."

"Yes! Do it!"

Princess Luna could not bare to see Cloudrunner suffer and protested, on the verge of tears.

"It'll be ok, Luna. It'll be quick." The General reached into his coat and pulled out a silver flask. He downed the whole thing, and told the surgeon to do his work.

Dr. Mend did his best to saw as fast as possible. His stainless steel bone saw could cut through femur in 28 seconds. A wing bone was foal's play. But those 14 seconds were pure agony for the charcoal pegasus on the table. He cursed the alcohol, and Luna, and heaven and hell. He yelled so many profanities that he caught the attention of all the nurses and physicians, horrified at conscious to-be amputee.

Finally the terrible wing fell to the ground. Blood flowed out of the wound. Nearly hyperventilating the General called for a hot blade. He wasn't going deal with any "stitches". Gauze were applied, and then removed when a red-hot knife was levitated by the doctor, and placed onto the nub. The sizzle, combined with the General's screams, nearly made Princess Luna pass out. But finally the ordeal was over.

Cloudrunner checked his eye. It had stopped bleeding a while ago. He began to get up, but the hoof of Mend prevented his leaving.

"Hold up, sir. We have to do something about that bullet in your flank."

"..What? Fuu...fine. Make it quick!"

Dr. Mend lifted up the General's coat off from his thigh. His usually obscured cutie mark was visible, an arrow styled to look light a lightning blot. The bullet went straight through it, staining the image red. The doctor used his magic to pull the projectile from the pegasus' thigh, and proceeded to cauterize again, though the pain wasn't as severe.

"There, General. You'll live. I’m sorry we couldn't save your wing, or eye. The flank will heal, but improperly, I'm afraid. I simply don't have the tools for any kind of reconstructive surgery like that."

All of Cloudrunner's adrenaline had run out. The gravity of the situation had now just hit him. He...could no longer fly, or even run, as he discovered when he had to limp out of the tent. "Thank you...doctor. You did what you could. Thank you for saving my live. And thank you, Princess. Come with me, let's get you to some place safe."

"But Cloudrunner! We must remain here! to lead our ponies!"

"Believe me, I wish you could. But we have no idea if we're being followed, and it's much too dangerous to let you be noticeable. As far as the enemy knows, we perished at Canterlot." He said as they left the medical tent.

"And thou? Would it be not as risky to leave thyself visible?"

"I am not as well known. They have no idea what the 'Night Phantom' looks like, but they all know what the Princess of the Night looks like. Please? Trust me."

The regal pony was hesitant, but as the neared a bunker-type structure, she finally agreed. The two proceeded down the stairs.

"Stay here. I'll bring some flashlights for you, and a bed."

"...do as thou must." Luna wasn't thrilled to be down here, but she did trust the General unquestionably, a quality she learned from her sister.

"When the time is right, You will lead us to victory. I'll come down here every night and tell you what's going on."

As the morning turned to day, Cloudrunner surveyed the fort. Most of the officers had known of his presence, and the most senior ones knew about Luna. A unicorn mare ran up to him, ready to ready the report.

"Sir! Staff Sergeant Steno! I have a report on our current situation." She saluted intently.

"At ease. Read on, Sergeant."

"Around 700 military ponies made it safely within the walls of the fort. An estimated 100 civilians made it as well. We have twenty trucks, and enough rations to feed us all for about a month. No heavy weapons or ammunition. Orders?"

"Tell the civilians to either join up or we have to let them go. Assign some units to raiding duty. We need more supplies. Training will not stop. We need to prepare for the counter-offensive." During his speech, Cloudrunner winced in pain at his new disfigurations, still far from healed.

"How long should I tell the officers we will be here?"

The General looked at the woods, mentally going past the trees, imagining the vast army coming this way.

"As long as we can."

"So we've been here for the past six months, getting ready for what will take place tomorrow."

"Wow, uh sir, I'm very sorry to hear about your...surgery. But wow you still went on anyway! I respect that dude...SIR!"

The General couldn't help but smile at his admirer. "When it's just us, I'm your peer. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Sharing a laugh, Rainbow found herself hugging the old stallion. When she realized what she was doing, Dash quickly leapt back, embarrassed.

"I'm...excuse me about that...I got a little carried away. 'Cause well this whole time you've been there for me and uh I kinda feel like you're well..."

"Like I’m a father to you?" On the inside the pony was elated.

"Ye...yeah. Ya see my dad left before I was born and I uh never..." Rainbow seldom discussed her past, and felt a tear streaming from her cheek.

"Well for your information you've grown on me like...like a daughter. Fate didn't give me a foal of my own, so you're the closest thing I've got." He placed his hoof around her shoulder.

"What do you mean?" She asked, wiping her eyes.

"I'll tell you another time. Now let's cut the sappy stuff, it's time to get some rest! Tomorrow you gotta make your 'pops' proud, eh?"

"You bet! But I think I'll stay out here a little longer." Rainbow figured she'd stay awake and contemplate what had just happened; the story, the sharing of paternal bonds, just life.

"Suit yourself. I'm off. Good night, Captain."

"Good night, Sir."

The General walked off, audibly yawning. Whe he was gone, Rainbow muttered quietly under her breath; "Good night, dad."

"Isn't that sweet. It always makes me happy to see such a beautiful father-daughter moment." An all-too familiar voice came from behind the blue pegasus.

"Hu...what?...Who's there?"

"Relax, Captain. It is only I, Princess Luna." The alicorn revealed herself, took a seat next to Rainbow.

"How long have you been there?" asked the loyal pony, hoping her softer side remained unknown to the diarch.

"Oh just from your hug on." She chuckled, much to Rainbow Dash's annoyance.

"You saw that, huh? Don't tell anypony, ok, uh your highness."

"Your secret is safe with me. If anypony were to be a father to you, you picked a good one in Cloudrunner. So strong...brave...handsome...oh sister I am so jealous..." Luna was talking to herself at this point, closing her eyes.

"...excuse me?"

"Oh oh nothing! Just uh thinking out loud! Yes!"

"Wait, were the General and...Princess Celestia an...an item?"

"Indeed. Ever since his wife left him, they got very close. I discovered the extent of this 'closeness' one night when I was walking past Celestia's..."

"Woah! Too much information! Why did his wife leave him? Who was she?"

"I do not know her name, but she was a unicorn. They were madly in love, so my sister says. But he could not conceive, and she became frustrated. When she left, he stuck to his work, and rose to the rank of General. He caught then attention of my sister, with his flawless record, not to mention his..."

"That's not right! Just because they couldn't have foal doesn't mean..."

"It is in the past now. Cloudrunner has moved on. Please, Element of Loyalty, don't mention to him that I told you. And while we're at it don't ever call him a 'half-breed'..." Her and her big mouth. She immediately covered it with a hoof.

"Uhhh I'll be sure not to. Half-breed?"

"Oh look at the time! I really must be going now!" She flew off, knowing she revealed far too much for the General's comfort. "Good night, Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow could do nothing but wave back. "Goodnight Princess."

Finally the captain decided too that it was bedtime. Jetting to her tent, she brushed her teeth, undressed, and jumped into bed. Her nerves were called, and tonight would bring pleasant dreams.

Chapter 14

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 14

The loud resonance of a bugle permeated throughout the large walled structure, telling everypony within to wake up. Many rose as soon as they heard the sound; others had to work up the will to leave the soft, peaceful realm of sleep and warm blankets. But none more than a certain blue pegasus dreaded even opening an eye, especially at such a Celestia-awful hour as...SIX O'CLOCK!

Rainbow Dash laid there for a good two minutes, fighting a mental battle with the responsible consciousness, and the lazy id, desperately trying to remain asleep. The debate continued until her rational mind played a devastating card; the General had expectations, the most basic of which getting up when awoken. He was likely too busy to come by her tent and pester her out of bed, as he had done several times before. No, Dash needed to take charge and get up. But first, just a few more...

Then, likely to ensure the success of the bugle, a young stallion trotted through the fort banging a metal pot with a metal spoon, yelling the whole time; "Everypony get up! Everypony get up!" By the time the colt approached Rainbow's tent, he had started yelling to a rhythm, creating a truly annoying chant or song. The Element of Loyalty got up, knowing full well she had been defeated. Before she gathered her things to get ready for the day, she walked past the stallion, pillow in mouth, and SMACK! Feathers went everywhere, a large ding as the pot hit the ground. She got the last laugh.

She opened the door to the bathrooms, and found an empty shower. All the fuel had been packed up, so Rainbow Dash would have to deal with a cold shower; nothing to heat the water. At least she was wide awake now. Nice and clean, the freezing pony went back to her tent and laid her uniform over the cot. Dash never much cared for dressing nicely, but Cloudrunner held his officers to a certain level of decorum and presentation. Even Princess Luna was obligated to comply. She buttoned up her shirt, and began to tie the black necktie. The pegasus had become very good at tying it, and secretly prided herself in learning to do something so well. Next came the dark blue jacket, naked of awards. The General promised he'd get her the ones she earned, but for now her bragging rights would have to be postponed.

Smoothing out the coat, making sure there were no wrinkles, she placed on her head the Pièce de résistance, the officer’s hat. If only her friends could see her now, she thought. Captain Dash! After admiring herself for a few minutes, she began to fold up her sheets and undo the poles holding up her tent. Shortly, when all her things were neatly place in a stack, she took it and flew over to the loading spot for packing into any available truck. For an hour or so, she continued to ferry items from the ponies to the trucks. Eventually the entire fort had been completely swept clean of tents and bedding. After everypony was done, they convened around the central stage, where Dash stood, beside the rest of the officer corps. Princess Luna was front and center, ready to give another speech.

“Everypony! You have prepared well and because of your effort, we are now ready to depart! It is not 7:45 and we are right on schedule. Staff Sergeant Steno here had expertly worked out logistics. All airpony units will fly to conserve room onboard the transportation automobiles. I myself will fly. Everypony else, your officer will speak with Steno for their assigned vehicle. Go!”

Everypony saluted, yelling "Yes your highness!" They got ready to break up, officers walking towards Steno.

Princess Luna was nervous about speaking, still unused to being in command. She leaned towards her right-hoof pony and whispered, “How was that, General?”

“Very good, Princess. If I may…”

“Of course.”

“Soldiers of Equestria! I warned you when we first came here, and I shall warn you again; today we bring the fight to the enemy! If any of you have reservations about going to battle, you may leave now! If you wish to stay, Princess Luna and I greatly appreciate your devotion to the values of our once great kingdom; a kingdom that I hope will rise again! Bear in mind however, if you should choose to stay, I cannot guarantee you will survive, but I can guarantee that if you are struck down, a thousand ponies will rise to avenge you, and honor your sacrifice! Dismissed!"

Another salute-wave came on, this time followed by a "Sir yes sir!" Again the crowd began to break. By 8 o'clock everypony was either in a truck or ready for takeoff, each given a gun and ammo. Captain Dash gathered with her unit, the wonderbolts. She flew up, spotting the first trucks starting to leave.

Princess Luna flew up beside her, smiling at the nervous, unsure look on Rainbow's face. "Don't worry, we all have butterflies, so to speak. I'm new to this myself, but look confident for your unit."

"Thanks, Princess. I'm just...I mean... the wonderbolts! I get to lead the Wonderbolts into battle! What if I mess up, I'm..."

"Remember your training. Cloudrunner is a good teacher. You shall not disappoint."

"Yes Princess." Rainbow Dash's face became resolute. Luna flew up over all the other airponies.

"We all stay close to the convoy! No going off the path. If we spot any scouts, we shoot them down, indiscriminately. Understood?”

All the pegasi confirmed in unison.

"Excellent. We should be near Canterlot by nightfall."

Rainbow Dash looked around her at her lieutenant Spitfire and the rest of the wonderbolts. "You heard the Princess! Stay close to the trucks. Down!"

An hour or so passed. Trees and streams flew by as the convoy persisted in earnest. The pegasi remained low to the ground, always vigilant for any Republic sentries. One slip up and it was all over. This thought found itself within Rainbow's mind. She veered over to the Princess.

"Princess, um Steno said the enemy was on the move, right?"

"Correct. That is why we had to leave when we did."

"Where are they coming from then? What direction?

"Cloudrunner tells me they've created a line of armies to sweep across the country, covering all the ground they can to find us."

"Then won't we run into them?"

"He says they aren't going into the mountains. The one gap in their battle line. That is why we are heading for the mountain passes."

"What? Isn't that dangerous?" Rainbow knew she could fly over it easily, but her concerns were for the trucks on the ground.

"For a large army like the ones they've sent to attack our fort. But for a small force such as ours, it will cause delays, yes, but no large problem."

"I hope the General knows what he's doing." Dash couldn't help but feel a bit anxiety. If a rock slide decided to happen, it was all over. She knew all too well how dangerous a mountain could be, after her excursion with the other Elements of Harmony to stop a sleeping dragon.

"As long as we stay in a single-file line, and quiet. That is an order, young Captain." Rainbow Dash was about to return to her squadron until the ever lonely royal pony asked her to stay. The pegasus obliged, for she too enjoyed the company, and would still be too shy to speak to her idols-turn-subordinates. It was so unlike her.

"So uh princess, what's a dragonroaster? Yesterday some raiders brought in three of them."

"Ah yes, a 'dragonroaster'. It's a really large bomb, packed with so many explosives that they say it could burn a dragon up, which are very heat-resistant, as I'm sure you know. We built some before Canterlot fell, but we didn't use them right. Now surely those rebels have started manufacturing some. Ironic how our own weapon would be turned against us."

"So you built a bomb that could cook a dragon alive?! Wow that must be a powerful chunk of steel! How...how can a pegasus carry one?"

"It is difficult to carry, as multiple airponies are necessary. A great amount of coordination is needed, not to mention high wingpower. Some of my military staff suggested that made them too cumbersome, and tactically worthless. But now we have a chance to use them again....on Canterlot." The Princess remembered that to win this upcoming battled, Canterlot and it's magnificent castle would have to be damaged. "I cringed at the thought of harming my beloved city."

"Well don't worry! We can always rebuild it, right?"

"Yes I suppose we can. I shouldn't get so emotional. I'm a warrior!"

"I can't wait to see you in battle." Rainbow Dash laughed, imagining a large alicorn in shining armor, ruling the battlefield. It was like something from a fantasy novel. How cool!

"Anymore questions, Rainbow Dash?" Luna's question snapped the smaller blue pony back into reality.

"Uh...hm....yeah...er...yes! What's a railway gun? And why could we use it?"

"It's just a big gun mounted on a train car. It looks impressive but suffers abhorrently from lack of mobility. We have no railroads to use; therefore it was useless to us. Besides it'd be too heavy to move."

"How big of a gun?" Rainbow Dash was such a tomboy sometimes, recently enjoying seeing large guns fire. During her training, she would watch ponies practice at the range with rifles and machine guns, and even a few cannons. Such raw power, she thought, as she looked at the craters created by mortars several hundred yards away.

"The kind of gun they put on battleships." Princess Luna herself was also a fan of big ordnance, much to her sister's chagrin. Weapons were not becoming of somepony who was suppose to set an example.

"...wow. Simply, wow. Speaking of battleships, Equestria has a fleet, right?"

"We used to have a navy, yes."

"Where'd did it go?"

"When the rebels captured all our naval bases, so too went our navy. One admiral surrendered her fleet to prevent it from being bombed, killing everypony on board. She was captured and likely executed..." She bowed her head for a brief moment.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don’t' worry about it! Anyway would you like to hear about our ships? I've memorized everything about them and just would love to share, unless you think you should return to your squadron?"

"Are you kidding?? I'd love to hear about that stuff!" Battleships, cruisers, tanks, guns. They were all cool to the somewhat-alarmingly gun-enthusiast pegasus.

"Well alright! There was this cruiser we used, we had about 12 of them. Anyway..."

Grounded. The sky taunted the old warpony, constantly reminded of the life he once led in the clouds. His own name could sometimes tear him down. The General would run through the clouds no more. That is why he sat in the front of the truck, away from the opening caused by the vehicle bed and the canvas covering. He didn't wish his view to be full of pegasi, passively flaunting what Cloudrunner had lost.

Most days it didn't bother him. In fact, seeing his young Rainbow Dash excel so much gave him a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time; bliss, happiness, the sensation that everything was right in the world. Watching her, he reminisced about his own youth.

His mother encouraged him as he beat his tiny wings like a bumblebee. He could only hover for a few seconds then. He cried, only to be comforted by his smiling mom, bringing him a fresh apple and cider, straight from orchard somewhere near the Everfree forest. At night, as his mother tucked him in, the colt would ask about the world, why he was different than his friends, or why the older ponies disliked them both. And occasionally he would ask about his dad. Where was he? Why wasn't he there to see his only son learn to fly? Did he not love his colt?

"When somepony leaves out of love, then you know it's real." She never gave a full answer; only a cryptic reply. Cloudrunner stayed up late many nights thinking about what she said. He didn't mind that he was different, until some of the neighbor kids began to call the future General some very odd names like "half-breed" and "dodo". His personal favorite was "Outlier", coined by a particularly nasty bully after a math lesson in statistics.

He had heard of a small orange pegasus who had the same problem; the one of not being able to truly fly. He very much wanted to meet her, but it never came to pass. Though it seemed she was not the target of bullies, not as he had been.

But those days were over. And today Cloudrunner felt very distraught. Soon he would have to lead ponies into battle again; but with one change. His only contribution could be from a war tent. The "Night Phantom" was no more.

Lost in his thoughts, half-asleep, the driver shook him with his hoof. "Wake up sir! We've reached the pass."

The sudden motion jerked the pegasus awake. "Hu...what? Oh yes! Right, well everypony who's driving knows to remain single file. The pegasi will maintain their shadowing. Brake." No sooner said than done, the truck stopped, and the General hopped out, signaling to the Princess.

She swooped in, followed by Rainbow Dash.

"Yes General? Why have we stopped?"

"Princess, if it would be alright with you, I ask that you fly to all trucks and tell them to be very quiet. Same with the pegasi. Any loud noises could cause a rock slide, you know."

"I'd be happy to, Cloudrunner. Come Captain!" They flew off, mission in hand.

"Much obliged, your highness." With that he climbed back inside his vehicle and told the driver to continue. The unicorn turned towards he CO.

"Why not just use the radio, sir?" He pointed to the communication setup on the dashboard.

"We've invested too much time in this little endeavor to throw it all away by using the radio. True all the channels are synchronized, but I will not risk our broadcast being intercepted. I believe I told everypony to never use the radio.”

"Ohh, right" The driver was embarrassed, but thankfully his blush was obscured by his orange coat.

The convoy began its trek through the pass, appropriately and frighteningly named Pony-Maimer Pass. The edges of the cliffs were lined with unstable-looking boulders. Everypony hoped with all their might those rocks would stay where they were. The pass had claimed thousands before. Cloudrunner was going to make it certain a thousand more weren't added to that tally today.

Chapter 15

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 15

The voyage into the pass was quiet. The only sounds to be heard were those of engine pistons reciprocating in their steel blocks, driving the convoy along. Everypony looked nervously at the precarious rocks perched atop the edges of the pass, held up by virtue of an unseen force.

The pass was only 3 miles long. The first trucks would have cleared it in less than twenty minutes. But tat small amount of time proved to go on for hours. After an eternity, Cloudrunner's truck finally made it through. It did not stop. There would be no stopping; not until the spires of Canterlot were visible.

For the next hours or so, the some five dozen vehicle train drove on, the pegasi bringing up the rear. Five trucks remained inside the pass when the sound of cracking filled the ears of all the ponies present. Pebbles began to trickle down onto the road.

A lone boulder was wobbling, rocking back and forth. It's motions prevented anypony from figuring out which way it would fall. Back and forth. It was about to fall soon, very soon. The last truck came into its projected fall trajectory. The rest continue, but this vehicle hosted the most unfortunate ponies in the army; the car broke down.

Several pegasi swooped down, and several more ponies scrambled out of the the canvas-covered back, holding tools. They all cursed the damn engine, and opened the hood. Smoke erupted form the engine, and the mechanics got to work. The cracking grew louder and more frequent. The pebbles began to from a sort of flowing stream. The mechanics worked faster than ever, knowing full well only a few precious seconds would separate them from life and death.

Rainbow Dash was watching this entire ordeal. Biting on her hoof, she had half a mind to go down there an help. But she knew nothing about car engines or mechanics or even what made the thing move. All she could do was hover patiently, and be ready to swoop in ad save anypony if necessary.

The boulder was now rocking at almost 45 degrees to its resting position when the driver turned the key. The engine revved up. The mechanics applauded, embracing each other. Only the louder cracking snapped them back into reality. They hopped into their truck.

"Floor it!" yelled a pony in the passenger seat. The transport vehicle zoomed through the remaining stretch of the pass, with the pegasi following not far behind. The boulder came rolling down just when the truck left its path. Te giant rock smashed into the opposite wall, sparking a chain reaction of other masses of silicates crashing down into the pass. The lone truck just barely made it; a small stone dented the carriage of the artillery piece it was towing. A collective sigh of relief followed.

This was the true point of no return; the road was to wrecked to use, and a journey on hoof would be too dangerous.

Cloudrunner heard the landslide and examined the side mirror. He saw the dust cloud even from as far away as he was. He bowed his head, honoring anypony that was unfortunate to be caught in that mess. But he could not stop. Too much was at stake and what precious time he had could not be wasted. Still, he thought he would have to do something to save the army. They got lucky, he thought.

At long last, the Liberation Army finally reached Canterlot. A secluded part of the surrounding woods was where they made their camp. The daylights had turned off, and the nightlights were switched on. The cover of night was perfect for preparations.

Cloudrunner got out, and started yelling orders to anypony close enough to hear. "Alright all of you! Unhitched those artillery, put them into position! Battle stations! Come back here to get dinner for your units. We're eatin' on the go!"

Orders were executed flawlessly. The trucks were unloaded. Crates were opened and their contents distributed. Everypony was given more ammo. "Put those bombs here, this is the ammo dump! Be very careful with those dragonroasters! Pu...no no No! Dammit that's a mortar. Take it to your units!"

On the other side of the convoy, Luna too was commanding everypony. After they had prepared their troops, officers told their soldiers to do exercise. Teams of cooks gathered under tent to ready a meal for over a thousand ponies.

Int he middle of this scramble, Steno galloped to the General. "Sir! I have our numbers!"

"Read them out."

"Our total numbers are 1,563 troops, 65 pieces of artillery, enough ammunition to supply everypony and every gun for a three-day shelling, and enough bombs to level a small town."

"Excellent. Tell my senior officers that they will dine with the Princess and I in our tent. Make sure you inform her about our numbers. Move out!"

Within thirty minutes, the officers' tent was full of its namesake ponies, all chowing down on whatever could be made from the food they packed. Rainbow Dash munched on a daisy sandwich and a salad. On either side of her sat the General and the Princess, both enjoying the same meal.

"An army marches on it's stomach." Luna laughed as she finished her sandwich. Her look became serious as she leaned down onto the table, holding her hooves together. "Now, to discuss the battle plan."

"Mmm...yes." Cloudrunner spoke, wiping his mouth. "Colonel Armor will lead the ground assault..."

He was interrupted by a disgruntled major. "General, I hardly think you should be giving orders to an ARMY officer. You're charge is the air corps." Rainbow Dash's eyes widened at the unicorn's audacity.

The General responded very coolly, "True. However I'm afraid I am the only general officer present..."

Luna interjected. "So he'll have to do! I suggest, Major, you remember the chain of command." The ponies sank into his chair.

"Thank you Princess. Anyway Colonel Armor will lead the ground assault. Canterlot is going to be heavily defended, so we must be methodical."

"Indeed," began the Princess. "Mortar teams will attack any anti-air emplacements along the outer wall. After those are cleared, I will order a bombing squadron to deploy one of the heavy bombs. The resulting hole in the wall will allow the Colonel to continue the assault."

"Precisely. This will continue for the second wall. Remember, Colonel, protect those mortars at all costs. We need to shell those flaks." the General looked at the white unicorn.

"Yes sir! And do we receive air support?"

"Of course. Captain Dash here will lead the air assault. Captain, your squad will clear the skies, as well as escort those bombers. It is vital! Even more so is protecting the dragonroasters. Since they require multiple pegasi to deploy, they are VERY slow and therefore vulnerable. We only have three, and we need exactly three."

Rainbow Dash saluted and spoke up, surprised to be given such responsibility. "And what about the third heavy bomb, sir?"

"That one will be delayed, so that you an I can make the extraction." A smile emerged on his face.

"Extraction?"

"I'm under direct orders to locate and rescue the five elements of harmony currently in custody of the Republic. As well as Celestia."

The tent became silent as the name of a fallen leader echo through the minds of everypony.

The colonel was the one to break the silence. "Wait! Does that mean Tw..."

"Yes it does son." The General gave a sympathetic look. "Rest assured, I will personally make sure she is safe. Captain Dash’ll hold me to that, right?" He turned to the blue pegasus.

Automatically she said "Sir yes sir!"

"After they have been rescued, I will inform the Princess, and she will order the final bomb to be dropped."

Another disgruntled officer spoke up, this time a green earth-pony. "We are going to waste precious time while you 'rescue' some fillies? Time is of the essence, 'sir'."

"Need I say one of those 'fillies' is our Princess Celestia?"

"Listen you half-breed, she's a fool! She got captured, and we cannot spare the time to rescue her! It's better to have her under the rubble of Canterlot than to have us captured or worse!"

The General pondered his words for a few seconds. Calling him a "half-breed" incensed him, but hearing his beloved Celestia being slandered and tagged "unimportant" made him snapped, unleashing his inner passions. He lashed out a hoof and pinned the pony against a tent pole.

"How DARE you!’Captured or worse' HA! It's because of Celestia we are even here tonight! She distracted the rebels long enough for us to escape, the least you could do is show some respect!"

The foolish stallion could hardly breathe. "B...but is she worth being captured....and...."

"She has endured more than you could even imagine! She..." He stopped himself, realizing what he was about to reveal was kept secret. He glanced to Luna. The serious look on her face, followed by a nod, told Cloudrunner that the officers needed to know. "She was captured and tortured, for the sole reason of her being Celestia! The broke her horn, plucked feathers one by one. They sheared her mane, and beat her until she bled. Without magic she was defenseless. They broke her legs and her ribs. They whipped her until her flesh was raw and you could see bone. They...they" The emotion of the moment overtook the warpony, as a tear streamed down his cheek. The rest of the tent was similarly astonished, Luna herself silently sobbing. "They RAPED her, and laughed as she screamed!"

He was trembling, filled with anger and sadness. "They shot her just to watch her bleed. That's not the worst part. The worst part is that she lived. all the pain she was dealt, all the humiliation, sadness and shame; it did not end. No, fate was not so kind to Celestia. We have the escape of death, sweet sweet death. She does not have that luxury. Simple mutilation can not kill her. She KNEW that was her fate the moment she resolved to stay behind when Canterlot fell, and yet she stayed..." He loosened his grip on the stallion.

The earth-pony was truly sorry, and managed to utter a few words. "H...how do you know all this?"

"Because...she sent me a letter with what magic she could muster when the nub of her bloody horn had grown back. She gave me a reason to fight. i know what these ponies do to others, and that's why I've resolved to win. This. War."

He released his hoof, and the green pony fell to the ground. "I'm so sorry...I had no idea."

"Well now you do. Now you all do!"

Rainbow Dash and Colonel Armor were shaking in their seats. Their hearts burned ardently for justice. Dash prayed that her friends were alright, or everypony in that castle would truly know the wrath of Hell.

Everypony cooled down, finished dinner, and reported to their units. Rainbow Dash came over to the wonderbolts.

"Ready, Captain?" Spitfire was armed and dangerous, anxious to pump the enemy full of lead.

"Uh...Yeah...Yes lieutenant! Alright we're gonna stay close to those bomber. When the heavy one comes, nopony will leave it unprotected! Understood?"

"Yes Captain!" They said in unison.

Rainbow clicked on her radio, and asked for the General.

'Yeah, kid?"

"I'm...I'm not so sure..."

"No backing out now. You don't have to kill anypony, but keep in mind they won't have to same reservations about killing you."

"Yes sir." She got ready to take off on the Princess' command, and end this war once and for all. Spitfire and Soarin' stood beside her. In the cyan pegasus' head, this moment was the most badass thing she had ever experienced; her idols, under her command, standing at her sides ready to follow her into battle. Dash relaxed her breathing, and began preparing her wings.

"I'm about to go into position, Cloudrunner." The Princess strapped her gun to her back. "I’m sorry you have to stay here, at the command post."

"Ain't no big deal. Any final orders, Princess?"

"If you don't find them in the castle, at least bring me the head of the Premier." Luna had fire in her eyes. That pony that caused it all. All the suffering and pain. The death and oppression. He must be stopped.

"That is a promise."

"And General Cloudrunner never breaks a promise." She pressed the talk button on her radio. "Attention all artillery units. Begin shelling!"

Immediately explosions could be heard behind the command post, followed by bright streams of orange. In the distance, the walls of Canterlot lit up. The battle had begun.

"I want them to know we're here, that I am here. This perverted night is a mockery of what I envisioned."

She flew up, her dark wings spreading apart, her horn glowing royal blue. The army turned around and saw something that had not been seen for six months; moonrise.

Luna used her radio again. "Attention ALL units. Unleash Hell."

Chapter 16

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 16

Manehattan; the great center of commerce and culture. The mighty city of a grandeur surpassed only by the shimmering capital of Canterlot. Once ponies from all across Equestria came to engage in business and tourism, saturating the trains and subways, and congesting streets. Lines would form around the blocks, with ponies waiting to meet their favorite authors or sample the latest baked goods from a cafe.

Skyscrapers dwarfed the wilderness around the city, hosting the great banks and the tycoons of industry, such as Triple-Crown Industries' Manehattan branch. Anypony, from every walk of life and every corner of Equestria, could not help but stare in awe at the massive scale of the urban jewel.

Until the war came.

Now once towering buildings are but piles of rubble, still being removed and cleaned up. The fancy high rises have been torn down, replaced with factories and garrison posts. The fall of the city ushered in a new era of Republican rule. Martial law, long enacted, ensured the colorful nightlife was stopped. Ponies needed to be safe. Safety and equality was first. All else came second, including freedom. Freedom is a dangerous thing.

Somewhere in the streets that remained, there slowly walked a yellow pegasus. Flying was illegal. It risked rousing uproar from "less-advantaged ponies." He kept blowing his orange mane from his face. He should get it cut. As the pony passed the long-dead neon signs and the ruins of Equestria Financial, he sighed, silently lamenting the poor state of his beloved Manehattan.

A zoo came into his sights. Perhaps on his day off he would take his three children to see the animals. A flier blew into his face, advertising the newest addition to the city zoo; a small purple dragon. What was its name? Splinter? Talon? It wasn't important.

He walked up the steps to his apartment door. It was humble, and slightly aged, but it was home. Before the war he hoped to save enough money to buy a lovely house in the suburbs. Dreams can die. His wife looked towards the door, greeting her husband.

"Oh welcome home dear!." She trotted up to him and planted a kiss on his cheek. "How was work?"

Placing his coat on a hanger, the pegasus began. "You know same ol' same ol'. We got another order for those big bombs."

"Simply dreadful. When will they have you back making furniture? You're so good at that." The stallion turned and looked at his flank. A wooden rocking chair was superimposed over it.

Sighing, he continued to the dining table. "Is dinner almost ready, dear?"

"Yes, yes. Call down the kids, would you please?"

He cleared his throat. "Ahem...kids! Dinner!"

Three little ponies gallop down the stairs, all yelling in unison, "Daddy!!!!"

They tackled him so hard he nearly fell back in his chair. “Woah...hey kids! What have I told you about running down the stairs?"

Again all at once the children responded, "To not to...."

"That's right. Now take a seat. We're about to enjoy the wonderful meal your mother has prepared for us."

One skimpy meal later, the children returned to their rooms, the sound of hooves clopping on stairs likely annoying the neighbors.

The pegasus gathered the dishes and prepared to wash them. His wife looked at him with a worried look.

"I'm sorry we had such a small dinner, honey...the market was pretty bare."

"Those military brutes need all the food they can get...and I'm sorry I can't make more money. I know you wanted better. Those idealists in Canterlot feel they know what's best. Look what they've done to Manehattan...and how they've destroyed the very things that can rebuild it."

"You know I've never cared for politics." She chuckled, wrapping her forelegs around her stallion.

"Yes I know. Thanks for dinner, dear." He leaned in to kiss her, and retired to his chair. The thirty minutes of television that was allotted to his household entertained his wife and three foals. Afterwards, the yellow pegasus walked out onto his balcony, looking up at the empty sky. (Not that he could ever see any stars past the city lights in his youth) Still, he longed to fly up and feel the wind in his mane. He sighed, before noticing a glow reflecting from a metal sheet across the street. To his left he saw a truly wondrous sight.

"Everypony! Come out here! There's something wonderful outside!"

No sooner had he called his family did they oblige. To their absolute amazement, none more than the stallion, the clan stared up at the night sky. Far more bright than the "nightlights", there placed above Equestria was a brilliant full moon.

Celestia was still awake, all of her cellmates long in slumber. In her near-cataonic state, she found it difficult to do anything, strangely including sleeping. They gave her just enough food to prevent a hunger-induced coma, but she still looked emaciated and overly gaunt, even for somepony as tall and gangly as Celestia.

She heard the faint sounds of...bursts. That's the best she could describe the noise. Faint orange flashes lightly glowed against the hard stone grey of the windowsill. Celestia weakly stood up, trying to investigate. They were do to come soon. Would this distract them? Her self-labeled "selfish" thoughts were quickly banished from her mind as she looked at her dear student and the other Elements of Harmony. Those terrible ponies channeled their sick energies into Celestia, sparing the five other mares. It was awful, but a necessary sacrifice to protect those she loved; for however long she could.

Again the once-regal alicorn turned towards the window. Her eyes were filled with the great sight of an object rising. It brought tears to her eyes, tears of joy. She instantly knew what the "burst" were. She sat in her cell now, and waited to see what the night would bring.

"Thank you, Luna. Thank you. Soon we may have peace, my little ponies."

"The advance is commencing as scheduled, sir. Estimates say that in two days the entirety of the country will have been surveyed." The Minister of War spoke as the Premier read his brief.

The leader of Equestria placed the report down onto his desk. "Excellent. Have somepony radio them. I want the country leveled if necessary. I've invested too much time and resources to have it ruined by some damned rebels."

"Yes sir." The minister walked off to carry out his orders.

Another pony came in, the Premier's secretary. "Sir! I have an appeal from the Senate."

"What does the Senate want from me?"

"They have submitted their weekly petition for the revocation of your emergency powers."

The uniformed pony glared at the filly. "And if I refuse?"

"They state they will send another petition next week."

"I see. Everypony, it seems this statement lacks teeth. Tell them there is a civil war. Rebels! Guerillas! Anarchists! They must be stopped! I will not sacrifice the existence of this republic on account of some politicians! Perhaps I should just dissolve the Senate altogether."

"Sir, is that...constitutional?" Another minister spoke up, knowing full well the answer to his question.

"I arbitrate that document. In fact..." The Premier was suddenly cut off by a number of explosions, followed by bright orange lights outside. "What in the world was that?"

The occupants of the office looked out the window and saw the shining orbital body over the horizon. "Were those fireworks?? Are we celebrating our discovery on how to raise the moon! Haha excellent!" The minister of technology stood there, staring blankly.

"Well?"

"Sir...um...we...haven't actually...made the breakthrough..."

The Premier sat back down to think. "Hmmm...so if we didn't do it...then...then!" His hoof shaking, he reached to take off his reading glasses, which made a rattling sound. "Lu...Lu...Luna...is...here."

The earth-pony's secretary started to speak. "S...sir..."

"It...was...my understanding that Luna. Was. DEAD!! YOU PIECES OF SHIT!! MOBILIZE OUR DEFENSES!! KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!! INFORM THE MARSHAL!!" He began to cool down, everypony now cowering in terror at the temperamental pony. "Tell him to hold the city at all costs. I shall retreat to the bunker. Since Luna appears to not be able to die, BRING HER TO ME!!"

"Y...yes sir!" They all saluted and did as they were told. The Premier gathered some things and left to his bunker.

On his way he cursed Luna and whatever army she had with her. "You are going to wish you were mortal, filthy creature. You shall pay dearly for your transgressions."

And with that he continued on his way.

All of Canterlot was made ready to deter the invasion. The anti-air emplacements were prepared. Garrisons emptied. Sirens were sounded as the citizens rushed into bunkers of their own. Cannons loaded up. Tanks unleashed. Marshal Powderkeg stood inside the castle, overlooking the whole city. The Second Battle of Canterlot had begun.

Chapter 17

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 17

Captain Rainbow Dash stood ready, her hindquarters held up high, wings flared out and flapping. Once Luna gave the command, she and the wonderbolts would leap up into the air. Dash's whole body shivered in anticipation. This is going to be epic, she thought.

The cannons in the background had begun to fire, sending their fiery streams of incendiary fury towards the great city everypony loved. The Princess of the Night had raised her dear moon for the first time in six months. Rainbow's eyes narrowed. She knew it'd be any moment now. Any. Moment. The pegasus licked her lips, running through her mind the events about to unfold. She wanted a medal, decorations, and perhaps even an official commission. But first and foremost, the Element of Loyalty wished to live up to her title, and find her friends. She scarcely liked to think that they had become victims of the enemy's cruelty, that the five bestest friends in the world had long left this earth.

However much it pained her, wrenched at her soul and nearly brought her to tears, Rainbow Dash understood she needed to entertain the possibility. She dreaded nothing more to have let them down after assuring Applejack and the rest that she WOULD return. But a new promise had been forged within the cyan pony's mind one late night; if her friends by some act of the cruelest fortune were indeed dead, those responsible would half to endure Hell of Earth. No, worse. Hell hath no fury like a mare scorned.

Lost in her thoughts, the Captain was jerked back into the present by a click on her walkie-talkie. It was the Princess! She gave the order. It was time.

Rainbow spoke out to her unit. "Alright Wonderbolts! You heard the Princess! Let's go go go!"

And with that every single airpony flew up, resembling at large a massive swarm of insects. Rainbow held her gun tightly. As a fighting airpony, she was issued an assault rifle, fully loaded.

She spoke again, this time into her radio: "This is acting air commander Captain Rainbow Dash. Squadrons 3 and 4, protect all light bombing squadrons. Squadron 2, you're with me in clearing the skies of enemy airponies."

"Squadron 3, roger." A voice sounded from the speaker.

"Squadron 4, roger." Another voice came in.

"Squadron 2, roger."

"Captain Dash!" This time the voice was one Rainbow did not recognize. "This is Captain Starblazer, commander of the bombing wings."

"My fighters on are their way for escort, Captain!"

"Roger. Over and out."

Yet again another click signaled to the rainbow-haired commander. "This is Colonel Shining Armor, requesting air support! We've got a handle on the flaks, but I'm seeing some enemy bombing runs!"

Finally, Rainbow thought. "Gotcha, Colonel! My two squadrons will be right there!" She turned to her unit. "You heard the stallion! Let's go.

Nearly twenty airponies darted over the trees, against the backdrop of howitzer fire. Everypony readied their weapon and followed their officer.

A few moments later, Rainbow Dash found herself face to face with the frontline. Ground troops were hammering away at the outer wall with mortars and grenades. The wall was too thick to breach by such means. Dash was certain now her job was all the more important. Air superiority was essential. All her troops hovered high above the battlefield. The anti-air had not yet noticed them. Coming up was a large air wing of dozens of airponies just yearning to shoot her and all the rest down. She reached for her walkie-talkie again. "Captain Starblazer. I'll distract the fighters. Go in for a run."

Captain Dash decided to make the first move. She was an excellent shot, aiming flawlessly on an officer-looking pegasus. She switched the weapon to single-shot. Her body was invigorated with adrenaline. A pulled trigger later, and the target fell. Switching her gun back to automatic, she flew forward, ready to do battle.

"Chaaaaaaarge!" Her loyal soldiers flew into battle with her, unleashing their streams of metallic death in the skies over Canterlot. Rainbow cruised past many pegasi, blinding them with her impossibly fast speed. She felt alive, zipping through speeding bullets, barrel-rolling to avoid being hit, while at the same time trying to land a few shots. This was for all of Equestria. The Captain needed to do her best. Several enemy bombing ponies went down, claimed by the cyan pegasus.

Over behind the action more pegasi were coming, Starblazer's bombers. Rainbow noticed them, and spoke into her communication device. "Squadrons 3 and 4, permission to engage enemy forces, but first and foremost stick to escort duty!"

Two subsequent "affirmatives" sounded. The screens work very well, with no losses the first time. A bombing run was conducted along and inside the outer wall, causing confusion. Colonel Armor had taken out the AA guns, just as promised.

Meanwhile, as the dogfights raged above, Colonel Armor relentlessly shelled the walls, hoping to break them down. No luck. they were just too thick. On top of that his infantry needed to put up with advancing ground troops and a few bombers that had broken through.

"Damn! We're just wasting ammo now. Attention all ground troops, cease bunker-busting! General Cloudrunner, we're getting nowhere fast! Requesting a run with a dragonroaster."

Over at his command post, the General heard the transmission. The skies weren't clear yet, and the heavy bombs were very vulnerable. But a decisive, quick victory needed to be gained, before reinforcements could arrive. He shuddered at the prospect. "Granted! One is on its way for the outer wall. Captain Dash! Protect the bomb at all costs."

"Yes sir!" Rainbow Dash was still viciously fighting it out above. She dashed over to her Lieutenant. "Spitfire! We got a dragonroaster coming! I'll order the escorts to switch tasks!"

Another radio command later and the magnificent steel orb of destruction appeared against the brilliant moonlight. It headed into the criss-crossing hazard zone of the aerial front. It's escorts quickly assembled around, gunning down anypony that approached the vicinity.

The air battle was tipping in the favor of Princess Luna, who was at this time joining Rainbow Dash. Using her mighty horn, she zapped the opposition with bursts of weaponized magic.

With the steadily growing advantage, nothing could stop the heavy bomb. Rainbow, Luna, and the rest of the airponies made sure of that. Slowly inching forward over its target, the bomb finally found itself above the wall. Rainbow Dash pulled out her radio.

"Dragonroaster over outer wall, repeat, dragonroaster over outer wall!"

Colonel Armor heard her, and immediately called his units back for cover. The enemy ground forces didn't notice the gargantuan metal egg-shaped death weapon until it was too late. It was dropped, the bombing ponies immediately returning to ready another. The fins on the back caused it to spin. When it hit the top of the outer wall, the lone dragonroaster drilled its why deep into the concrete before exploding.

All this happened in less than a second. The detonator went off as the bomb was boring into the fortification. What came next wowed everypony present at the battle. In a fiery display of pure, unadulterated force and power, the wall was all but vaporized, leaving a massive crater in its wake. The whole battlefield was temporarily alight from the sheer volume of fire produced by the giant load of explosives.

The earth shook as everypony felt as if the very ground would split open. Cloudrunner could feel the heat from where he was, behind the lines.

Princess Luna spoke to Rainbow, waking her from her awe-stricken stupor. "Captain! Best be alert even more now! Now that they know we have dragonroasters, I'm sure they will work twice as hard to shoot us down!"

"Wha...oh...yes Princess!" The battle resumed, bullets flaring across the night sky. "Spitfire! Get ready to face another wave!"

"Aye cap'n!" Responded the yellow pegasus. She readied her rifle and followed Rainbow Dash wherever she would go.

Meanwhile Cloudrunner listened to radio transmissions. He overheard the Colonel telling his troops to advance into the city. He listened to bombers coordinate attacks and decide on targets. And all this was ambienced by the sound of gunfire.

To the old warpony, nothing distraught him more. The General felt useless and indeed selfish for remaining at the command post. It was an important job, of course, but one that left him unfulfilled. All the ponies that had suffered injuries that prevented them from serving on the frontlines were put to work firing off the big guns in the back.

Cloudrunner knew his officers had a good grip on the battle, and his orders had already been given. They would execute the commands well, and reach the objectives. All he was needed for was to approve cross-unit cooperation.

Once he was the "Night Phantom", feared by all as he soared across the battlefield. Every enemy soldier that saw that iconic swoop dove for cover. Even anti-air gunners cowered, as they couldn't hit him. His mere presence inflamed his troops with immense morale.

But now he was grounded, stuck with a desk job. It wasn't fair his troops were putting their lives on the line while he was safe under a tent. He reached into his coat and pulled out a flask. He reached for the cap and began to unscrew it.

But then a sudden realization hit him. "No...no! I don't need you. What I'm I doing? I'm a General, dammit!" He threw the flask out into the brush. Cloudrunner was giving up too easily. All his life ponies told him what he was; a talentless waste. With such tiny wings, he could never fly, let alone well. Older ponies would walk past him and scoff, muttering "There goes that muddled creature." They thought he couldn't hear what they said, but Cloudrunner heard it all. Countless kids would bully and tease him on his heritage, his handicap. Those itty-bitty wings barely carried him a foot before falling. that is, until one day they grew, larger than anypony else's. He was the fastest pegasus to the kids, beating every single on of them. He had triumph when everypony told him "No, you cannot." Cloudrunner felt invincible.

Unfortunately when the General lost his wing, those ancient feelings of worthlessness resurfaced. Long nights of lamenting his loss, his utter state of helplessness. And now a third time, in the face of his protégé and the rest of the airponies, Cloudrunner saw his self-proclaimed duty out of his reach. He couldn't run or fly. Useless on both the ground and in the sky. But if he surrendered to this demon inside of him, he would only prove those obnoxious foals right. All those pedigree-bearing uptight ponies that cursed his very nature. He would never be what others told him to be.

He was General Cloudrunner, the Night Phantom. He called for Steno.

"Staff Sergeant, I'm taking a truck with me. Tell your staff that if they wanna fight, come over here."

"Yes sir, but what are you doing?" She was concerned. Steno expected Cloudrunner to stay at the post all during the battle.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to the front. I'm eager to pump those bastards full of metal!"

"But...but sir, you're in no condition to fight."

"The hell I ain't! Now go tell everypony. Make sure they grab some ammo and a gun."

"Right away!"

During the next few minutes, Cloudrunner took a truck and tore off the canopy, as well as got a rifle. Ten ponies showed up armed, ready to fight.

"We're here sir! Put us to work!"

"Ponies! You all are here because you've been titled 'useless' and relegated to the staff. Well that's a load of crap. So either you get back to staffin' or hop in here with me in this truck!"

Immediately the ponies jumped into the exposed truck bed with the General, another took the wheel and passenger seat.

The General looked at his ragtag group of crippled soldiers and smiled. "We got more visibility without the canopy, but we're sorta exposed. You can get out now if you're afraid of gettin' shot."

A large, burly pony retorted, "If'n we are, then what the hell are we doin' here, sir?"

"That's what I like to hear! Let's move out! Steno! Don't wait up!"

The engine started up and within moments the truck accelerated towards the battlefield. the trucks were considered too flimsy and vulnerable that Shining Armor opted not to use them for movement. But Cloudrunner had another reason to bring one; he had a couple ponies he needed to pick up in the city.

Steno looked at the vehicle, rapidly decreasing in size. She had heard of Cloudrunner's exploits during the War. He was never one to sit back and watch the battle, as was proper for a general officer. She called it reckless. It had already cost him an eye, a wing, and a working hip. But Cloudrunner preferred to stay away from the term reckless; to the General, such actions were labeled "dutiful".

Chapter 18

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 18

Night had lost all meaning. The orange glows of a thousand weapons purged the sky of darkness. All sounds devolved into gunfire and shouts, further adding to the confused environment. Anypony less than a trained soldier would have been lost in the carnage.

Princess Luna was right; the enemy was retaliating for the damage done to the outer wall, with interest. The Liberators were outnumbered, as squadron after squadron of Republican airponies poured from the barracks. However, for all their strength in numbers, the enemy was outgunned. Having an Element of Harmony and a demigoddess do entail a certain advantage.

Rainbow Dash was zipping left and right, up and down in the face of the merciless onslaught of pegasi. Her orders were to clear the sky, but that now seemed hard to do with more and more fighters coming out. Even now on her tail were four soldiers, all aiming straight at the cyan pegasus. Bullets flew, each one desperately trying to pierce the light blue coat of Rainbow Dash, and send her falling several hundred feet below. Soldiers were the muscle of any operation, but take out and officer, and it all falls apart.

Dash weaved around and barrel-rolled for what seemed like an hour, unable to turn around and counterattack. Spitfire and the rest of the wonderbolts were weaving right beside their Captain, due to an occasional shot fired not at Rainbow. They too couldn't do anything. Too dangerous, as a split second for a turnaround could mean death. But then Captain Dash got an idea.

"Spitfire! Tell everypony to hover! Stop dead in your tracks...I...I have an idea!" Her voice could hardly be heard over the muzzle blasts of the enemy rifles. "They'll be caught off guard and won't be able to stop before we blast 'em!"

Spitfire got a smile on her face. "Good idea! Alright you heard the Cap'n! Hover!"

The unit stopped immediately, hovering above the ground, as the pursuers whizzed past, unsure as to what happened. Before they could turn around themselves, Lieutenant Spitfire laid them all down.

She turned to Rainbow Dash, a smug grin covering her face. Blowing the muzzle of her gun, "How's that, Dash? THREE seconds flat."

"I can do better!" Equestria's self-appointed best shot was not about to be beaten.

"You're on!"

The maneuver Dash orchestrated caught many other unsuspecting pursuers off guard. Within five minutes, other squadron commanders had picked it up and started using the trick with their squadrons. After some time, the skies started wearing thin of enemy pegasi. The path was clear for bombers and their escorts to help alleviated the grueling battle on the ground.

That was where Colonel Armor stood, ordering his mortars to blast those anti-air guns to oblivion. It was only 100 yards to the inner city wall. Time was of the essence. A more forceful push needed to be made. But the Colonel's ponies were started to lose morale. The enemy was too entrenched in what were once shops and cafes, now rudimentary defensive positions.

Shining Armor could only get so far with grenades. The fighting would have turned into a stalemate if the Colonel had not heard the sound of an engine coming closer from behind. At first he thought it was merely a medical convoy, picking up wounded soldiers. They made frequent trips to the command post, where surgeons would do what they could.

But cheering came from this truck, which was missing its canopy. Ten ponies sat in the bed, all carrying weapons. One other drove. The truck came towards Shining. A familiar face greeted him.

"Colonel!" The General saluted him, oblivious to the battle.

"General Cloudrunner! What are you doing here? You aren't...."

"Save it, son. You're fighting a war here. We wanted in." The Colonel could not help but admire the General's bravery.

"Nice of you to join the party, sir!" With the General's entrance, everypony was almost roused again to charge into battle. The final argument came when a bombing squadron blasted several enemy entrenchments to smithereens. The liberators ran forth, fearless and resolute. Only 100 yards to go.

Shining Armor heard the General was tenacious, but this was ridiculous. “Cloudrunner, you magnificent son of a bitch.”

The truck lead the charge, its occupants shooting every which way at enemy soldiers, amazed at their opponent's new-found morale. The near-zealous ponies conducted a full on blitzkrieg, rushing by enemy units, gunning them down and shelling them whenever they got in the way. Several tanks, much to the Colonel’s amazement, were blasted into twisted piles of scrap.

Soon the army approached the inner wall, hitting it with everything they had. Within minutes the flaks, guns, troops, everything on the wall was gone. It was now time for the second heavy bomb to be deployed.

Cloudrunner got out his radio and pressed the talk button. “Starblazer! You are clear to send in another dragonroaster!”

“Yes sir!” Starblazer turned towards his unit of bombers. “Come on troops! Let’s get the second heavy one!”

The General then addressed Rainbow. “Dash! Another heavy bomb’s comin’! You know what to do.”

Rainbow Dash called back the wonderbolts. The second wave of enemy airponies had now been stopped. The Captain whizzed to help the bombers. As the team of five pegasi lifted the gargantuan explosive up off the ground, Rainbow and her flyers stuck close, completely disregarding the concept of “personal space”.

Slowly but surely, the bomb made its way over the war-torn city. The trip took twenty minutes. During that time, the General, from his makeshift weapon platform, took out whatever enemy resistance he could find. Looking overhead, the charcoal pony saw it; the glorious steel giant looming above the inner wall. His protégé had escorted both bombs flawlessly.

“She’s gonna get a whole case of medals! Colonel! Fall back. That wall is about to go up in a plume of fire!”

“Aye sir!” He spoke into the radio. “Fall back! Bombing run over inner wall!”

And for the second time that night, the earth shook at the most powerful display of force was again conducted. The wall jettisoned itself into the air, leaving a large gaping hole, begging to be exploited by the Colonel's forces.

"Alright, ponies! Through the breach!" The army charged into the castle grounds, shooting at the garrison inside. The General told his driver to go up by the entrance to the castle, near where the dungeon was. Again he grabbed his radio. "Captain Dash! Come down here, over by the fountain. It's time to begin the extraction! Leave Spitfire in charge!"

"Yes sir! Right away! Lieutenant, take command!"

"On it Cap'n!"

This was it, the moment Rainbow Dash was looking forward to for a month. She would finally rescue her friends, her dear, sweet friends. the best friends a filly could ask for. The Element of Loyalty would fulfill her promise, and showcase her most notable attribute. Without a second to lose, she darted down towards the castle's fountain. It was once so serene and pretty. Now its waters turned red with blood.

On her way down, however, Rainbow Dash caught the eye of an anti-air gunner. He fired his cannon, Rainbow made the mistake of not paying attention. Pow! Captain Dash could feel her kneecap shatter. The hit cause her to collide into the General's truck.

She cringed and squealed in pain. Thankfully the only injury on her was the fractured knee. She could still fly. Cloudrunner jumped out of his seat, alarmed at what had just occurred.

"Give her some space, boys! Dash! You have to go back to the command post. Dr. Mend'll fix you right up! Can you still fly?"

"Owwwwww!! Yeah I can still fly. But I'm not going anywhere. I'll follow to hell and back if it means saving my friends!" She reached into her backpack and pulled out some bandages, wrapping them around her wound. Rainbow was no doctor, but it would have to do. "Ready, sir!"

Cloudrunner looked at his officer and nodded. He turned to speak to his truck-mates. “You all stay here and support the Colonel. I got business to attend to.” Immediately afterwards they both got out of the truck, and made their way to the entrance. "Alright, Rainbow-mane, we're gonna go in and find some sorry bastard, and make them tell us where they are keeping the prisoners. Leave at least one of them alive."

"After you, Cloudrunner!" The two were alone and therefore peers. The gesture was a sign of trust between the two. The General bucked open the door, ignoring his hip injury. The door swung open, revealing the long corridors descending into the bowels of Canterlot Castle.

The pair progressed in earnest, for somewhere in this dark, dank place were Celestia, Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and of course Applejack. Rainbow flew slowly and cocked her gun, knowing full well she'd leave with less ammo than when she entered.

Chapter 19

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 19

Rainbow Dash and Cloudrunner steadily progressed through the dimly lit halls, lined with the aged bricks place by masons of centuries passed. Their ancient mortar was shaken loose by the carnage above, with each blast propelling dust into the floor. Rainbow gulped audibly and followed her mentor.

The tunnels were empty, save for a few rats here and there. Even after all the way she came, Dash couldn't help but feel like she was too late. The Captain had put on a war face, but still held her feelings of uncertainty within. She spoke up, clearing her throat. "G...General? Are you sure...well...you said Celestia, she can't...um..."

"Celestia cannot die by conventional means. Neither can Luna. They however are not immortal. Compared to an average pony, yes they will outlive us all. But eventually those two will die. Very powerful magic, I have been told, is the only thing capable of killing Celestia. And even then, it is difficult." Through his speech, the General never loosened his grip on the gun.

"And my friends? Could she...protect them?"

Cloudrunner responded grimly, just as uncertain as Rainbow. "I don't know. But I do hope we find them in this miserable place. Now buck up. Get your head in the game."

"Yes sir..." She realized her lamentation wasn't helping anypony. This was no place for sentiment. Still, this would be a perfect opportunity to ask the General a few personal questions. "Um...if you don't mind me asking, why did that major call you a 'half-breed'?" That had been burning at her inner curiosity.

"...This is hardly an appropriate time." They turned a corner. Much to their relief, nopony was behind it.

"But sir, as peers we should at least know something about each other. I mean you apparently know a lot about me.

"...Wh...fine. I suppose you should know. They call me THAT name because of my...uh...heritage."

"Heritage?"

"Yeah. Ya see I'm not a...uh pure-bred pony, as it were. Not both of my parents were pegasi." The General seldom discussed his past; in fact few ponies even knew his secret.

"Is that bad?" Rainbow herself, though she never knew her father, was a full pegasus. She knew cross-breeding happened, but it was relatively uncommon.

"To some ponies, yes. My father was an earth-pony. He met my mother who was on a visit from Cloudsdale. They were married soon after. Then I was born."

"How much grief did you take for being, you know a mixed-foal?"

"I got my fair share. Anyway those bastards drove out my father. To protect my mom's reputation, my bigoted grandparents made up a story in that she was raped."

"Whaaa...that's terrible! That's something to never joke about! Why I..." Rainbow Dash was angry, but also felt guilty for making her mentor relive his less glamorous days.

"It is what it is. After my dad left, I never saw him again. I don't know what happened to him. Rumors say on his way out, the bigots killed him. I personally like to believe he had been secretly there, the whole time..." A faint tear came from his good eye. "Uh...well yeah. There ya go." They turned another corner. The whole dungeon seemed like just a long corridor.

Oh Rainbow why do you always pry into pony's business like that? She regretted putting this old stallion through his dark memories. "Gosh, I had no idea..."

"Don't give me no sympathy. Besides. It ain't so bad. Part of the beauty of being a mixed-kid is that not only...uh...could I fly, but you get the increased stamina and physical strength. Earth-ponies also have enhanced coordination and whatnot. But for all the smoke and mirrors, Dash, remember; what you're born as doesn't make you what you are."

"So even though an earth-pony may be stronger doesn't mean say a unicorn can't be?"

"Pretty much." Cloudrunner smiled. Rainbow picked things up quickly.

"So uh," The cyan pegasus tried quickly to change the subject. "We sure did take the city very fast. Didn't it take three days for the rebels to do it?"

"We sure did. But it helps to have a really big bomb that can cook a dragon blowing up shit for ya. Not to mention excellent air cover."

Rainbow blushed, and kicked a hoof. "When are we going to find the end to these tunnels?"

"Sooner than you think..." His voiced trailed a she caught sight of a few guards trotting towards them. "Get ready."

The guards likewise spotted the two and began to run forward. He armed his gun and shouted. "Hey you! We're the only two guards that are supposed to be down here! Get back to your posts!"

Cloudrunner didn't stop his limping, nor did Dash cease flying behind. The head guard spoke up again. "This is your last warning! Leave or I will shoot!"

"Not if I do first." Cloudrunner pulled the trigger and down went the guard's companion. "Keep that other one alive." He said to Rainbow Dash.

A few gunshots later and the other guard fell down, his legs blasted. Cloudrunner went over to the guard, holding his bayonet right at his neck. "Now tell me, where do you keep the prisoners?"

"I'll never talk! Kill me!"

"Bold, I respect that. But we need to know. I will give you one last chance." Rainbow Dash got a worried look on her face. How would the General force him to talk?

"Like I said, cripple. Kill me."

Right as the guard finished speaking, Cloudrunner bashed him in the nose with a hoof. Blood rushed out of his nostrils, soaking the fur around the guard's mouth. "Where are the prisoners?" The General's voice was growing tenser.

"Hahaha fuck you!" Blood sprayed from his lips as he uttered his expletive. Some found its way onto the General's face.

Wiping the sanguine spittle, Cloudrunner then rammed a hoof into the guard's chest, and another under his jaw. A few more jabs and Rainbow grabbed his hoof. "What are you doing!! We're suppose to be the good guys!"

"One more, Dash. We need him to talk." The Blue pegasus could not restrain the strong pony's foreleg as he nearly broke the captive's temple.

Right before the hoof made contact, the guard gave in. "Waaaiiiittt!!" He started crying. "I'll...I'll talk! There...are...only six prisoners in here...down the hall...all others are...at the military...prison...in Fillydelphia."

"Rainbow Dash's ears perked up at the number six. "Who are the prisoners here?? Tell me!"

"Six pretty mares like you. Fresh meat the...were...'til...we...had our way." The guard knew he was going to die, either from broken bones or blood loss. But still they broke him.

"You...you...what??" Rainbow started shaking in the air, fearing the worst.

"You heard me. We raped them. They all cried. It was beautiful. But none more than the yellow one. I got the pleasure of being first. Hahaha!!" He turned to the charcoal interrogator. "Now General, you can kill me."

Cloudrunner saw the pure, raw, unfettered fire in his Captain’s eyes. HE was frightened by them. "I'm not going to kill you, but I cannot speak for my friend here.

"...What?? No no anything but that! Shoot me!" The guard knew now he had royally pissed of a mare. A big mistake. In his desperation he reached for the General's gun, but merely grabbed his eye patch, yanking it off his head. Cloudrunner would usually mind. Not now.

Rainbow Dash grabbed the guard and threw him against a wall. Her rage was at the breaking point. She took her gun and pointed the barrel at the miserable pony. He sighed, thinking he would only get shot. Just then Rainbow swung the gun around, knocking the pony's face with the wooden stock. "That's for Mr. Cake and Ponyville!" Again she whacked him. "THAT'S for hurting my friends!!" A third time. "THAT'S FOR RAPING THEM!!" The third time cracked the stock.

The guard weakly protested through his tears. "Ple...please..."

Rainbow pointed the barrel straight into his forehead, ready to pull the trigger. "And this, this is for taking Fluttershy's virginity." With that she fired a bullet into his skull.

When the adrenaline had subsided, tears began to well up from the pegasus' eyes. The General put a hoof on her shoulder. "Let's get going. They're here, waiting for you. For their hero."

The two continued, but not before Cloudrunner took a key from the guard's dead body.

The hall didn't look much longer. Cloudrunner limped towards its end to try and find the cell. Captain Dash brought up the rear, staying a bit behind to make sure nopony had heard the sound of gunfire.

The cell was so close the General could smell Celestia's sweet fragrant mane. Soon, very soon.

Twilight paced around in her prison, uncertain about her and her cellmates' fates. Explosion had gotten louder, and now the dust was falling from the ceiling. They all feared it would collapse soon. Celestia still was too weak to move. Flutterhsy still sat alone, lost in her sorrows. Pinkie's mane was still straight and flat. Applejack and Rarity were playing a game of tic-tac-toe in the dirt, much to the white unicorn's chagrin.

They were all startled from several gunshots down the hall. They didn't think much of it. Guards were commonly executed in the deepest part of Canterlot. Still, the noise always made them uneasy, no matter how use to it the six were.

Soon after, Twilight heard hoofsteps. But these hoofsteps were odd; they had a strange rhythm, almost like somepony was...limping.

A dark shape emerged from the shadows, dressed in what looked like a military uniform. It carried a gun on his back. But most frightening of all was when it reared its face behind the bars. A dark stallion with a grim expression, missing something from it.

Celestia looked up as much as she could, and as soon as she saw the figure, its face registered with her. A beautiful blue eye. The same blue eye she gazed into many nights. She thought it impossible it was the same, but there it was, staring at the alicorn and her cellmates. However only one stared. In the left one's place was only a reddish-black spot of congealed tissue, shadowed by a scar.

Celestia mustered all her strength to speak. "Cl...Cloudrunner? What...have they...done...to..."

Her voice was lost on the shrieks from Rarity, recoiling at the gruesome eye. Twilight tried to talk to the figure. "Who are you...and why haven't we seen you before?"

"There's somepony else you'd probably care more to meet." He replied, getting a confused look from Twilight. "He yelled out into the hall. "I've found them, Captain!"

Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie ran up to the bars and anxiously awaited whoever this "Captain" was. A cyan-blue pegasus flew up, dressed in the same uniform as the larger pegasus, just now revealing his wingless side. The blue one had a rainbow-colored mane and tail. Everypony's mouth was agape. For the first time in a month, they felt the wait of all the world's problems just...disappear.

A friend thought long gone had returned.

Chapter 20

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 20

Rainbow Dash could not believe it. There stood her five dearest friends in the world, alive, and despite an emaciate look, relatively healthy. True they were injured. But alive. Tears welled up as the Element of Loyalty took on the combined weight of five full grown mares throwing themselves at the pegasus for a hug. Rainbow felt her ribs slightly constrict from Applejacks forcefully embrace. Such a strong pony.

"I'm so glad you guys are safe." For the time being, they all forgot about the battle raging outside.

"We...we thought you were dead...they said you were...shot down." Twilight would never admit it to her friends, but she held her doubts that Rainbow survived. The others ardently believed she had.

"You kiddin'? Takes more than a bullet to stop me!"

"Just as brash as ever, huh Dash?" Applejack missed that reckless pegasus.

"Oh I'm soooo happy to see you, Dashie! We should throw a party, oooooh with streamers and balloons and cake!" Pinkie Pie's hair had inflated, returning to its puffing norm.

"Oh and I do so love your uniform. Very 'dashing'. Hahaha!" The cyan captain rolled her eyes. Leave it to Rarity to think about fashion at a time like this.

Fluttershy was mostly silent, meekly uttering, "Thank you...Rainbow Dash."

Cloudrunner felt a lost joy in his heart, seeing the ponies so happy. But it immediately broke when he turned to the fallen princess wheezing on the floor. He tapped Rainbow's shoulder. "Captain, this is touching and all, but we don't have time right now. Let's get outta here."

"Yes sir!" She saluted after her friends released rainbow-mane.

"And too who do ah owe my thanks?" Applejack noticed the gruff warpony.

"General Cloudrunner, miss...Applejack? Big fan of your wares."

"Ah'm flattered. Is there any way we can repay you?"

"A nice tall glass of cider, ma'am. And gettin' out of this horrible place."

"Ooooh but your eye, it's...not there...hmmmmm. I might have an eye patch around..." Pinkie Pie started looking around for any one of her "hiding places"

"No time. Come on!"

Rainbow Dash's face grew resolute. "Right, everypony, l...owwwwwwww oww ow ow." She accidently stepped with her back leg.

Rarity saw the rest bandage. "Are you alright, darling! You're bleeding!"

"Yeah...yeah I took a bullet earlier. I'll be fine."

"Wait! What about the Princess!" Twilight was not about to leave her teacher in this dark, miserable dungeon.

Cloudrunner was way ahead of her, and limped over to his beloved alicorn. Applejack took note of his disabled state. "Hold on sugarcube. You ain't in any condition to be carryin' the Princess."

"You look like a strong farmfilly, but I'm not going to let any of you do any physical exertion. You all must be starving!" He pushed his head underneath the white alicorn, lifting her onto his back. He cursed in his head that his actions likely hurt her. "We'll be home soon."

Rainbow Dash lead the way out, with her friends following close. Applejack still didn't feel right about letting a disabled stallion do something she could. This feeling was exasperated when he cringed trying to run, overcoming his limp. Nevertheless, she let him do his thing.

Ten minutes later, the group saw the light of the moon, as well as a thousand bullets. Cloudrunner yelled to Rainbow Dash. "Captain! Call over my truck. It'll take them back to the command post!"

"On it!" She whistled to the vehicle. "Hey! Get over here! We have cargo!'

The five former cellmates huddled together, deathly afraid of the battle around them. As soon as the truck came by, each of them jumped into the bed, except for Applejack. She helped Cloudrunner place the Princess oh so delicately in. The truck drove off, as the fillies inside waved goodbye to Rainbow Dash.

"Go with 'em, Dash!"

"But, General, I have to perform my duty!"

"You've done enough! You've rescued your friends. Go to them. Besides that knee isn't helping"

"What about you?"

"I'm gonna make sure the Premier doesn't see the sunrise! You are relieved of duty! That's an order!"

"What!! But my soldiers! They need me! Why are you suddenly not letting me fight!" Rainbow Dash was astonished. Cloudrunner had always encouraged her loyalty.

"Because...I don't wanna lose you, ok! Don't you see? Your friends just thought you were dead! Don't make them go through that again. This war has already taken so many young ponies. I finally found...a daughter. I don't want to bury her. Now go!" The charcoal pegasus was shaking, admitting his fears to his unofficial child. Even though he only knew her for a month, that time had created a mutual feeling of familial affection.

"General...dad? I don't want to lose you either. But I must put those feelings aside. For Equestria."

"...You're right. How could I be so selfish...go to your squadron. They're waiting."

"No sooner said than done, 'pops' " Dash smiled and flew away. Cloudrunner had never felt so proud.

"They sure raised you right." With that he cocked is gun and made his way up the stairs, into the castle, ready to face off against that raving ideologue who murdered thousands. Before entering the fortress, he picked up his radio. "General Cloudrunner to Staff Sergeant Steno. We've got six ponies comin' in to the camp. Make sure you feed 'em. Over"

Steno's voice came through the speaker. "Aye sir!"

"Cloudrunner to Luna, the extraction was successful. All six were alive, albeit in need of a medical checkup. The way is clear for the third heavy bomb. I'm gonna go find the Premier, over."

Princess Luna was alerted from her battle frenzy above, fighting yet another wave of enemy pegasi. "General! Will you be able to get out in time before the bomb hits?"

"Not sure, but I'll try to be quick. Cloudrunner out." He entered the castle, blocking the reception of his radio.

"That damned fool. Captain Starblazer, execute third heavy bombing run. Captain Dash, provide escort. We're wrapping this up now." Luna heard the two confirmations and returned to the fray. "Cloudrunner, if you get your stupid ass killed, I won't be able to thank you." Luna contemplated flying down to see her sister, whom she hadn't seen in 6 months, as well as the five other elements of harmony. But tears and happy reunions weren't needed right now. She decided to remain in the air, and only rest when the battle had concluded.

Twilight Sparkle leaned over the edge of the truck bed, fearing for her friend. Rainbow Dash had gone back, even though she was clearly injured. She belonged back at the camp with the rest.

During the time she was lost in her thoughts, the vehicle arrived at the camp. Everypony got off, including some scruffy-looking older ones. A unicorn ran over to them. "Hello! I am Staff Sergeant Steno. Is there anything I can get for you?"

Applejack was the first to respond. "Ah believe, ma'am, that our Princess should get some medical attention. Come to think of it ah'm a bit hungry. Do you have any food?"

"The General radioed me about that and I've had the cooks prepare some more meals. Over there, girls. Eat up."

"Oh thank you thank you!" Rarity hardly thought it was lady-like, but her stomach had been grumbling for hours.

"Excuse me, Sergeant" Twilight Sparkle began, "But I was wondering if anypony we knew was here. Do you have anypony here by the name of Shining Armor. He was Captain of the Royal Guard?" Steno followed her as a few large ponies carried the Princess to the medical tent.

"Why yes, actually. Colonel Armor is leading the ground assault as we speak. He radioed a few minutes ago about taking out all anti-air guns."

"Really!!" Twilight's face sparkled with joy. Her BBBFF was here! "But...is he safe?"

"He'll be just fine, miss." Just as Steno finished, Celestia was placed on a bed among groaning and crying ponies, all beat up, burned, and maimed. Another unicorn in a white coat rushed over to the Princess.

"Princess Celestia, I'm Dr. Mend. Nurse, set her boned. I'll see what my magic can do." A short burst of magical energy later, the doctor spoke again. "That'll have to do for now. Nurse, get her some food. Hopefully the heightened healing talents of the alicorn will help us out here." He then noticed Twilight, and her nub of a horn. "Miss! Are you alright? Can I do anything for you?"

"Well can you fix my horn? And my friend's too?"

"We have pain killers if you are experiencing discomfort, but unfortunately all you can do for a broken horn is wait for it to grow back."

"In that case, I'm fine. Thank you though." Before she left she leaned down to Celestia. "Get well soon."

"Thank...you...Twilight..." Celestia smiled ever so slightly.

Twilight kissed her dear mentor on the forehead gently, minding her horn. She trotted off to join her friends. The lavender unicorn trusted Rainbow Dash knew what she was doing. Still, there was a voice of doubt that that would be the last time the cyan pegasus would grace them with her presence.

And that charcoal stallion. He knew him from what the Princess had told, and though she just met him, what an unfortunate event it would be should the General not come back either. And she didn’t even wanna think about her brother. But in her powerless state, the worried unicorn would merely have to wait, and hope for the best.

Rainbow Dash met up with her squadron, eager to return to fighting. While she was gone, under Spitfire's command they had scored no less than 20 direct hits on enemy pegasi, almost wiping out what little air support the Republic had. The Air Captain convened with her Lieutenant. "Spitfire! How'd you do while I was away?"

The yellow pegasus lifted up her goggles. "Not too bad. I think we've bled them dry of airponies. What now, Cap'n?"

"Now, we escort Starblazer's ponies. The third heavy bomb is ready for deployment." Spitfire nodded in approval, placing her goggles back onto her eyes. Rainbow took out her radio. "Squadrons 1 and 2, report to command post, over."

The fighter ponies began towards the ammo dump where Starblazer was. Spitfire flew beside Rainbow Dash. "I suppose we'll have to hit the castle with it, huh?"

"Yep."

"Damn. That's nearly two miles. It'll take at least half an hour to move than monster."

"Good. The more time we can buy, the better."

"Why's that?"

"Cloudrunner's in the castle."

"That old stallion's gonna get himself killed on of these days." She turned her head to Rainbow and smiled. "But not today. They have tried to kill him since day one. His blood has graced the tips of many bayonets and the sides of bullets that grazed him. You know I heard some ponies think he's invincible. And the thing that scares the hell outta them the most is that he keeps coming back, like he's not afraid of death or something. And come to think of it," she paused, eyeing Dash's bandaged knee. "You're not so different."

Rainbow laughed, surprised that she allowed herself back into battle even though she currently did not have a second patella. "Yeah well...hey! We're here! Alright everypony. Remember: no breathing room for the bombers!"

The five pegasus lifted the massive steel weapon into the air, while the escorts clung tightly, bordering on unnecessarily. Very slowly the run began, intent on blowing the castle to oblivion.

The halls of Canterlot Castle had change dramatically. Gone were the stain glass windows depicting the country's history; the Two Princesses, the Banishment of Nightmare Moon, the Elements of Harmony and their many exploits. In their places were concrete walls with great banners of the Republic's flag hanging over.

Cloudrunner progressed through the double doors into what was once the throne room, now empty. A group of four guards marched into the room on patrol. Immediately after the spotted Cloudrunner, they pointed their rifles at him. Unfortunately for them, the General was quicker, and all four fell down dead.

He continued up the central tower, where Celestia had observed the first battle. Through another door Cloudrunner entered what was a command room. Radios and battle maps littered the tables in front of the window. Standing in front of the window looking at the war raging below was not the Premier as the General had hoped, but instead a large, red earth-pony.

"General Powderkeg, is that you?"

The pony turned around. "Yes of course it's me! I've been up here the whole time! And it's 'Marshal'!" He jumped back when he realized whom he was talking to. "Cl...Cl...Cloudrunner! No...you're supposed to be dead!"

"You damn sure tried."

The Marshal began to calm down, getting a hold on the situation. "No matter. Guards!"

Two armed guards aimed their guns at Cloudrunner. The Marshal smiled a smug smile. "Drop it, half-breed."

The General's face turned to anger, but subsided to a less severe expression. He dropped his weapon. "I can't believe you, Powderkeg. You traitor. How could you betray Equestria?"

"I saw that the war was lost. I survived because I knew where to cut my losses. Now I'm one of the Premier's most trusted officers."

"Are you proud of yourself? Are you proud of all the ponies you let be killed, raped, beaten. Are you proud of what happened to Ponyville?"

"Well, no. True I've done things I'd rather forget about, but at least I'm alive. Unlike you in a few minutes."

"You coward. You care more about your own life than Equestria, or justice, or common decency! That fucking ideologue has wrapped you all around his hoof, and ruled you with fear. There's still redemption for you, though. Please, come back." Powderkeg was the General's friend once, until he defected to the Republic when defeats became common.

"Haha! and be executed for treason? No thank you. I'd rather remain the Premier's marshal."

"Do you even hear yourself? 'The Premier's marshal'? Not the Repubic's marshal? It seems you are lost. Well rest assured, Powderkeg, no matter what happens tonight, whether you surrender or not, you will not survived."

"Oh? How do you figured th..." Just then, Cloudrunner pulled out a pistol form his coat and shot the two guards before they even knew what happened. He turned the gun towards the Marshal and fired a third time. The red earth-pony fell over, gasping and losing blood fast.

Cloudrunner limped over to him. "Powderkeg, you son of a bitch. Your desk job has made you soft. You were my friend. I shot you in your aorta, judging by the rate of blood loss. You've got about thirty seconds."

The dying Marshal looked up at the charcoal pegasus. "I never meant to become this monster."

"You did nothing to stop it." He picked up his rifle and proceeded to a table, eyeing a map of the castle complex. A location was marked that caught his attention; a room marked "Emergency Bunker". Memorizing the location, Cloudrunner left the room, looking back at Powderkeg, now very close to death. His vision had faded, and his breaths were depressed. He died just after the General exited.

The determine pegasus made his way down another hall leading into the bowels of the castle. He looked at his watch. 10 minutes had passed. Time was running out. Five minutes later he came to the heavy steel door of the bunker. The General kept a small charge pack on him at all time; a plastic explosive, very inert unless detonated. He had it for such an occasion. It was very small, made smaller when he cut it in half. He placed both pieces on the each of the door hinges and lit a makeshift fuse. After that he ran against his hip pain behind a corner in the hall.

Not long after, the door blew off. Cloudrunner cocked his gun and took a deep breath. That Premier was not leaving. The General walked forward, ready to bring down the tyrant once and for all.

Chapter 21

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 21

The dust cleared, revealing a depressing room, surrounded on all sides by dull, gloomy concrete walls. Several uniformed ponies stood, absolutely frozen. A steel door had just fallen down inexplicably. A green earth-pony began to yell.

"Guards! Find out what caused that explosion! Shoot on sight!"

Three armed ponies stepped across the door. Out of nowhere trails of bright bullets sprayed from the hall, bringing down the guards. However the fire missed the others inside the bunker. Out of the shadows of the hallways came a dark grey pegasus. He didn't remove his rifle's muzzle from the doorway, a fact made inescapably clear to the Premier, as the bayonet came within inches of his face.

The green pony spoke up, his retainers cowering in the corner. "I demand to know who you are, and what gives you the gall to intrude on my personal bunker?"

"You're nice and safe within this room while you send out ponies to die, like those three just now. Name's Cloudrunner."

"Cloudrunner! So you survived too!! Whoever took credit for killing you will receive HARSH punishment. Well it seems he did a half-job in any case."

The General still held up his weapon. "You don't seem very alarmed that at any moment I could kill you."

"Then why don't you, Cloudrunner? You obviously have no use for me."

"Call it an attempt to probe the mind of a psychopath."

The Premier let out a weak chuckled. "I have long respected you. I'd be willing to name you one of my generals. What do you say?"

"Are you kidding? You think I would so easily turn my back on my cause? After all I've been through?"

"Such unquestionable loyalty. My, you certainly aren't like the Marshal at all. But everypony has a price." He started to his desk in the room. "I can give you a spacious house, full benefits, all the mares you could want."

"I don't have a price. I came here to end the murderous tyrant who has ruined the lives of so many."

"You aren't seeing what I have done. My ponies are well fed. They work for a common good. I have removed the oppressive unicorn and pegasus elites. All are equal. You, being a pegasus, do not know of the earth-pony's plight. I..."

Cloudrunner cut him off. "And what do you know of it? You know you're history. Born to a well-off family, pampered and spoiled as an only child. They sent you to fancy prep schools. And then you see those reveling in poverty. You felt for them."

"What is your point? Regardless of my background, I still saw they were suffering. Indeed it was made worse by the rich flaunting what they had."

"Well perhaps I was too rash. True, everypony gets all the food, shelter, clothing, and whatever else they need. Perfect security. Safe, protected by the military. However, there is one component your state lacks. It's the entire reason I'm here."

The Premier raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What, pray tell, is that? What does my perfect realm lack?"

"How arrogant. For all its welfare, there is no freedom. You tell the ponies to go and have a good time while your bureaucrats give them what you think they need. And they are completely vulnerable to the force you display to make sure things go your way."

"Freedom is a dangerous thing, Cloudrunner. With it, ponies could hurt themselves. Endanger the lives of themselves and others. No, ponies are safer this way." The Premier could not be more sincere.

"You know, I believe once your heart was in the right place. But you have been corrupted, and now you'll do anything to prevent somepony from knocking you off your iron throne. Anything."

"My methods are less than...chivalrous, yes, but nothing will stop my pursuit of Utopia. If ponies compromise my goal, then I shall enlist the help of whatever force is necessary to remove them. As well all know, General, the end justifies the means."

"The hell it does." Cloudrunner was shaking, his core beliefs being assaulted by the jaded philosophies of the green ideologue.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, but like I said, nothing will stop me. And I'll silence anypony who gets in my way!" He pulled open a drawer, reaching for the pistol in its contents. Cloudrunner was too quick and gunned him down, painting the wall behind with blood. With a loud "thud", he fell onto the top of the desk.

"You can pursue ‘social justice’ in Hell. Everypony else in this room, you might wanna get out soon." The retainers ran out, thoroughly scared at the Premier's death. The General looked at his watch. “Damn! Only ten minutes left!” He began to run a very painful run out into the halls, remembering the path he had taken to get there in the first place.

Soon the castle would go up in the most magnificent explosion anypony likely would ever see. Cloudrunner would get a front row seat, or be part of the show.

"Ten minutes 'til bomb time, over!" Starblazer yelled over his radio. The skies had long been clear, and despite the occasional bogie, the bomb progressed with no interruptions. Rainbow Dash, however, without any action to engage in, constantly worried for the General. He was still inside the castle, and no signs of him coming out yet.

Another voice sounded on the radio. "Alright, the explosives have been secured around the castle. Preparing evacuation behind outer wall. Over" It was the Colonel.

Rainbow perked up hearing the transmission. "Whoa! Wait a minute...what explosives??"

Spitfire was the first to answer her question. "Yeah, Cap'n. You must have been inside the castle when Princess Luna gave the order. She doesn't want the castle to remain, so she had Armor surround it with charges. They're set to go off when the bomb hits. The Princess wants to be thorough."

"Bu...but what about the General? He'll be vaporized!"

"Well the way I see it, Cloudrunner's incredibly hard to kill. They've been trying for four years. It's a little joke we have in the Air Force. He'll try his damned best to get outta there. Besides, we've still got...ehhhhh...eight minutes or so." The wonderbolt saw the expression on Rainbow's face; one of anxiety over a somepony she really cared about. "Don't worry. He'll make it. I'm nervous about him too. He was a mentor to all of us wonderbolts."

"What was it like when the 'Night Phantom' flew?" Dash wanted to change the tone of the subject, if not the subject itself.

"Amazing. When he flew, he left this long trail of lightning. Kinda like your 'rainbow trail'. One time..."

Around a minute or two remained, and the exit was in sight. His running had subsided due to pain, and a fast limp was all the General could use for locomotion. Just a few feet more and he could open the door.

Soon he reached the handle, and opened up the doorway to the outside. There were no dead bodies in the courtyard. His concluded they were taken for proper burial. Ruined of statues and artillery laid on the grass. The battle was over, or at least was experiencing a lull.

During his trek out, Cloudrunner came across several soldiers reporting for duty on the towers. He of coursed stopped them. Whatever soldiers the castle barracks still held had most likely already been sent out. He turned around, admiring the once great fortress before it would be compromised by the dragonroaster. To his horror, the General noticed the charges placed along the castle perimeter. He turned to the hole in the outer wall, noticing more charges just placed.

Above him was the bomb glinting in the moonlight. The ponies deploying and protecting it were probably too high to see him. All Cloudrunner could do was rush to the wall, hoping to make it in time.

Not five seconds later, the bomb dropped. The few remaining AA guns posed little threat, and a whistle sound made its way to his ears. A few dozen yards to the wall. He'd make it. Just a bit...further...

The heavy bomb's tip came in contact with the top of a low tower. It drilled its way down mere moments before detonating. The explosion was bigger than the previous two, igniting no only the charges around the castle, but also all the ammunition inside. The great plume of fire overpowered the retinas of many ponies, turning their eyes away. Rainbow Dash looked on, more uncertain than she had ever been.

The earth shook so much, the heat so great, the noise so powerful, that a timid yellow pegasus back at the camp, who had just finished her meal, nearly had a heart attack. The castle flared up, its base crumbling. The foundation engineered to withstand centuries of wear and tear was pulverized. The turrets, once bearing the Equestrian flag so proudly, toppled over.

The whole ordeal lasted little less than a minute. The smoke cleared. Colonel Armor looked back. No sign of Cloudrunner. Rainbow Dash, Princess Luna, and the rest of the airponies flew down to investigate. Just behind the outer wall, out of the line of sight provided by the gaping hole, was a charcoal pony, laying on his right side. Rainbow Dash swooped in. The pony was covered in minor scrapes and bruises. His tail was singed, but still there. The cyan pegasus nudged him with her hoof, hoping to awaken him. Nothing.

Another nudge, this time more forceful. Again, nothing. Those rose eyes began to water up. A third nudge, physically moving him a few millimeters. There was nothing. Rainbow Dash lay on top of him, sobbing. "Get up! Get Up!" She yelled in vain. Her crying intensified as she buried her head into his dark grey fur. "Don't leave me, daddy...why won't you stay..."

But then, her ear against his barrel chest, she heard something; weak breathing. A quiet groan followed. The confused filly lifted her tear-soaked head up. The stallion's voice was rough and scratchy. "I ain't goin' anywhere."

And then, for the second time that night, Rainbow was made oblivious of all around her. Her world was perfect for a few moments. Against the backdrop of rubble, she wrapped her forelegs around Cloudrunner, agitating his bruises. But he didn't care. They had won. And he had somepony to special to share it with. She let go as Cloudrunner went back to sleep, exhausted and in need of care.

But everypony else cheered. They cheered louder than they ever cheered before. Many of them would lose their voices the next day. Luna flew up, Rainbow Dash beside her. The Princess of the Night spoke up for one more time. "The battle is over! Many souls have been lost, but we shall never forget their sacrifice! Their deaths were not in vain, for the tyrant has been overthrown! Let Freedom ring! It is a brand new day, let's celebrate!"

It was almost six o'clock. The battle had raged on for the entire night. Luna's horn began to glow, as everpony looked up. Celestia, from her cot, shed a tear of joy. Her beloved sun began to rise, blanketing the land in light. Millions of ponies praised the sun, lost for six months. The Liberators had freed Canterlot from the Republic's oppressive grip.

At long last, after so much, they had won.

Chapter 22

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 22

The world began to fade in. A beeping sound found its way into Cloudrunner's ear. The walls were white, with faint blurs of several pastel colored shapes.

"...Oh! Everypony! He's waking up!" The pink blur started bouncing up and down. Soon, his vision came into focus, revealing six female ponies crowding around a white bed.

"Wh...am I dead? Are these pretty mares for me?"

"Haha! No, Cloudie! You're alive, well maybe we're all dead too! I mean were we ever alive in the first place?" Pinkie's existential quandary was cut short by an orange pony in a brown hat.

"Ya'll have to excuse her, General. She's a bit...well...a couple apples short of a bushel. Anyway, you are in the hospital. They up and got ya while you were lying in front of the uh former castle. You were mighty injured, missing a wing and all."

"Thank you. What else was I missing?" I just now noticed the left side of his face was covered in bandages.

A lavender unicorn took charge of the conversation. "Only your eye and wing. I'm sorry about that. But thank you for saving us. You don't realize how grateful we all are. Ok girls!" Before Cloudrunner knew what was going on, the six ponies rushed the pegasus in a big hug. The Rarity even went so far as to plant a kiss on his cheek, causing the old warpony to blush.

Rainbow Dash embraced him the tightest. "I'm so glad you’re safe... Don't ever scare me like that again!"

The General responded in kind. "Likewise, Captain." He noticed the white cast on her leg. "Looks like they fixed you up too."

She glanced at her leg, realizing what he meant. She had to hover due to the cast. "Oh...that? Yeah my kneecap was pretty much gone so they replaced it with I think titanium. I gotta wear this thing for a while."

"Good to see it wasn't too bad. Wait...where are we? Is this the Canterlot hospital?"

A unicorn wearing a white coat and stethoscope walked in to answer the General's question. "Indeed we are, sir. The hospital was still standing...well most of it. And fully stocked too. It's been wonderful to be able to treat all the soldiers, some of which I could never treat in a tent." As usual, Dr. Mend droned on about medicine.

The cluster of ponies on the bed didn't give up the hug. Another voice came in, like some sort of cliché, Cloudrunner thought. This was a voice he knew VERY well. "Now my little ponies, I wish to thank him too."

The General's eye widened. He had feared what Celestia would think of him, how he failed her. Would he be banished, or thrown into the dungeon, or banished and thrown into a dungeon at the place he's banished to? His mind was whirring a mile a minute, and then stopped and the alabaster alicorn leaned over the bed and kissed Cloudrunner on the lips.

The General’s wing flared out in excitement. Twilight Sparkle was stunned. Pinkie Pie was giggling. Nopony expected Celestia to be so…affectionate.

A few moments later and she pulled back, smiling at the speechless stallion. "Thank you so much, Cloudrunner. And of course you too Captain Rainbow Dash. Your leadership has not only saved us from prison, but also Equestria itself. We are in your debt."

The General's mind calmed down a bit. "Uh...you're welcome...Princess. Just doing my duty. By the way, where is Princess Luna?"

"My sister is outside, helping to clear the rubble."

"How long was I out? You seem much better since last I saw you."

Dr. Mend spoke up, glancing at a levitated clipboard. "Oh...about eighteen hours. Enough time to use magic and heal a Princess."

"Hm... well I've been idle for too long." Cloudrunner took off the heart monitor pads, as well as the bandages over his eye. He got out of bed. Dr. Mend took a breath to protest, but words failed him. The good doctor knew all too well how stubborn the General could be, especially in matters of helping other ponies.

Fluttershy, ever quiet, nevertheless felt like lending some hospitality. "Um...sir...is there anything we can get for you? That is...if you don't mind me asking."

"Well Miss 'Shy, I'd like an eye patch. I bet nopony wants to look at this...injury."

Pinkie Pie's face lit up. "On it! I got some around here." Out of nowhere she pulled an eye patch from underneath a tray of food on the bedside. She tied it around the General's head.

Cloudrunner was confused as to where the patch came from. "How did you..."

Twilight leaned over to his ear and whispered, "Best not to ask."

"Alright then...oh! And miss Applejack?"

The honest pony perked up her ears. "Yes, General?"

"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like that cider."

Night had come, and much of the rubble of Canterlot had been cleared. The former Senate building had been retooled by Pinkie to host an award ceremony. Many medals were graciously made by the city's local jewelers to commemorate their liberators.

The entire army was in attendance. Much of the city's population too sat in the chamber, among the more distinguished guests being famed industrialist Fancypants, legendary fashion designer Hoity Toity, as well the somewhat pompous aristocrat (Prince) Blueblood.

Princesses Celestia and Luna stood side by side behind the former Senatorial Head's podium. Luna still wore her blue uniform, as well the accompanying hat and sword. Cloudrunner and Rainbow Dash stood along with other officers in their uniforms, tailored and polished for the occasion. Among the officer corps were Captain Starblazer, Colonel Armor, Lieutenant Spitfire, and even Staff Sergeant Steno.

The ceremony began, and most of the soldiers received the Royal Medal of Honor, the most to ever be awarded at one time. Many too received a Crimson Flower, in recognition of their wounds sustained during service. The dead too were posthumously decorated.

Celestia reached the last few awards. She walked to Rainbow Dash, and prepared to make an announcement, "In recognition of her service to Equestria, regardless of official registration, I find it only right and proper to award Captain Rainbow Dash with an official commission with the Equestrian Royal Air Force!"

Rainbow was overjoyed. She got the commission she wanted. The audience stomped their hooves while her five friends cheered, loudest of whom was Pinkie Pie. "Yay! Captain Dashie!"

The cyan pegasus blushed somewhat at the nickname, but nonetheless stood proudly. Cloudrunner smiled, stomping likewise, a tear forming in his eye. His protégé...no, his daughter...was now officially a Captain.

Next, the regal alicorn spoke again. "And now, the final award. Given to those Equestrians who display the utmost loyalty and service to our country, for going above and beyond the call of duty to help so many, for so little. I grant to Captain Rainbow Dash and General Cloudrunner the highest honor I can bestow: Hero of Equestria." She used her magic to place a fancy gold medal, inlaid with silver and other precious metals, around the necks of the two pegasi.

Cloudrunner was absolutely stunned. He never thought he'd ever get this award. But there it was, around his neck. He prepared to bow before the Princess. "Thank y..."

Celestia stopped him. "No, General. You both bow to nopony." With that, Luna and Celestia kneeled before the two. Everypony else followed suit, even those officers in the center of the room. A band began to play the Equestrian National Anthem. Rainbow Dash and Cloudrunner were taken aback, honored to have the two most powerful ponies in Equestria humble themselves before them. Applejack silently vowed to have Rainbow bow before her, in the spirit of friendly competition.

The ceremony was over, but would never be forgotten. And neither would the sacrifices of everypony who fought in the Great Civil War.

Nine ponies hung out later that night at a donut joint. Chowing down on their delicious desserts, something wasn't right. Three other ponies were missing, as was a diminutive dragon. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, and of course Rainbow Dash each raised this point.

"Princesses, where is mah sister? Do you know where they took her?" Applejack hoped it was nothing severe.

"Indeed, I want my dear Sweetie Belle back."

"Don't forget spike...oh I heard those...rebels didn't treat non-ponies very well." Twilight hoped her little 'brother' was safe.

"And Scootaloo!"

Celestia put down her chocolate donut, somewhat of a struggle, given her sweet tooth. "I'm afraid I don't know...I'm truly sorry."

Luna shrugged, a sincere look on her face.

Cloudrunner however spoke up. "I do, Princess. Rainbow Dash told me they were fillies, yes? Don't worry. The rebels put them in schools in a foster home or something. They should be fine, if a bit indoctrinated." He sipped some cider. "As for...Spike is it? I'm sorry to say but they probably put him in a zoo."

"Well girls," Twilight began, "It looks like we're going to go on a hunt to find our lost siblings!"

"Then what are we waiting here for? Let's get going!" Rainbow Dash down the rest of her donut and flew up, ready to dart out the door.

"We'll help in any way we can." said Celestia. "But before you go, Captain, I'd like to give you something. You too Cloudrunner."

The cyan pegasus floated down, looking at the Princess. "What is it, your majesty?"

"Nothing is binding you to service, especially not you, Rainbow Dash. If you like, you can return to a civilian life. You will receive a nice pension. I just cannot ask you to give anymore."

Rainbow pondered the matter for a second, then responded. "Thank you, Princess. But I'll stay in the air force for a little while." She never shirked from responsibility, and now being a Captain gave her much more of it. No taking the easy way out.

Cloudrunner thought about the offer as well. After listening to Rainbow, it was his turn. "I'm with Dash on this one."

"General, she is young. You have had a long and successful career. You've sustained injuries and outperformed many ponies through the years. Are you sure? There is no shame in retiring."

"Indeed I am, your highness."

"May I ask why?" Celestia accepted his answer, even though she was personally against it.

He smiled, pausing a bit before speaking. "I ain't dead yet."

Celestia laughed. The General seemed to have made a bet with the world over whether old age or violence would kill him. As much as it pained her to see Cloudrunner endanger himself so much, the white alicorn knew it was who he was. "Very well. But at least allow me to give you something else."

"What would that be?"

"We should go outside." After finishing their snacks, the nine ponies stepped outside on the sidewalk. Cloudrunner was instructed to stand before the Princess. Everypony else stood behind her, except for Rainbow, who had to hover.

"I am going to give you back unjustly lost." Her short, rounded horn began to glow.

Twilight noticed she was about to use a spell. "Princess! I don't think you should be using magic."

Luna too grew worried. "Neither do I! Let me cast the spell, whatever it may be."

Celestia stopped concentrating. "I cannot let you do that, Luna. You need your strength, and this spell is dangerous if improperly cast."

"I'll take that chance, sister."

"I need you to raise the sun and moon. I do this with full knowledge of the consequences." Her face grew resolute as her horn began to glow again. Luna relented. Apparently this was important enough for Celestia to trust her sister with command of both the sun and moon, especially after she was lost to her own dark mind a millennium ago.

A beam of magic fired from the alicorns forehead, making contact with Cloudrunner. A glowing aura surrounded him as the amputated nub of a wing started to light up. Using all her concentration, Celestia performed the spell near perfectly. The General's wing began to reform, as bones grew from the stump. Soon, muscle and tendons covered the bones, growing larger and larger to match the right wing. Next skin then soft charcoal down feathers blanketed the regenerated limb. Lastly, long flight feathers sprouted out, fanning out into a flight-worthy spread.

The spell was done, and the aura left Cloudrunner. Celestia's horn however could not take the surge of magic, and cracked until it shattered, causing her to fall down in pain. Rather than admire the new wing, the General rushed to help the Princess up.

He looked at her forehead, now hornless. "You didn't have to do that. What did you do, anyway?"

She winced at the pain slightly. "I used an...ancient regeneration spell. It is powerful magic, and can only be casted...by the most disciplined unicorns. However...it can only be used once on a pony, and takes a large toll on the...caster. I will recover shortly though."

"Thank you Princess, I am truly grateful." He lightly picked her up. A collective "aw" came from the group. Rainbow's eyes even misted a bit. This got a snicker from Rarity, who was subsequently playfully shoved by the pegasus.

Cloudrunner spoke up. "Well, ponies, I think it's time you go find your siblings. I'm going to put the Princess to bed. Good luck! And if there's anything you need, I'll be waiting. Princess Luna, where are you set to lodge tonight?"

The midnight pony answered. "A hotel over on Stable Street. Come. Good bye, Captain Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy. Hopefully we will see each other again soon."

"Okie Dokie Lokie! Come to the party I'm gonna throw!"

"Farewell, Princess and General"

"Ya'll be safe!"

"...Goodbye! And thank you so much." Flutter said meekly.

"See ya sir!" Rainbow Dash saluted.

"Make sure the Princess gets well soon." Twilight Sparkle cared dearly for her mentor, and still didn't know this stallion as much as she would have liked.

Cloudrunner and Luna left flying. Cloudrunner was simply ecstatic to be able to soar again. Endorphins rushed through him as he flew, though his mind never wandered from the charge he and Luna carried.

Rainbow debated in her mind on what to do next, but couldn’t contain it. She yelled out for them to stop. Luna noticed she was heading towards the General, and temporarily held Celestia. Rainbow dashed into the General’s forelegs, squeezing him tightly.

She felt like a little filly, protected in the warm embrace of a parent. At first surprised, and then thrilled, Cloudrunner hugged her back. “Good bye, Papa.” The cyan pegasus quietly uttered. She knew her friends were watching. For once, she didn’t care what anypony thought of her.

After a few seconds, she released him, and he her. The General and Princess Luna continue on their way as Rainbow Dash floated down back to the five other mares. Pinkie Pie was spraying tears everywhere, as the rest were wiping their eyes. Too much emotion in one day.

Applejack spoke up, trying to ”awaken” the rest from their tear-jerked moment. "Well everypony, ah think it's high time we get started on findin' the young'ins."

The six nodded and left in the opposite direction. They had some captives to speak with, who hopefully could shed some light on the whereabouts of the four children.

Later that night, in a hotel suite left undamaged by the battle, Cloudrunner sat beside a lamp, studying his new wing. It was too good to be true; the feathers, the color, the strength, the were flawless. He flew just as well as he did before. But it wasn't perfect. Around the base of the limb, under the small down was a scar signifying where the original had been amputated.

But he didn't care. As far as Cloudrunner was concerned, he would be too gracious to the Princess to complain. She had returned to him his old life. All the rewards he had received, even being called an Equestrian hero, were too much. The modest stallion didn't feel worthy. But being granted a new wing, at the expense of the Princess' horn; it was too much.

He was shaken from his thoughts when a white alicorn came out of the shower, drying her cosmic mane with a towel. "I'm serious, General. After you bathe, you'll feel much better."

"I'm not so sure I can feel any happier, Princess."

"Haha and I can see why. Look at you, a General who's won a war, and even found something else along the way." Celestia gave a sly smile.

"Uh...what do you mean?" Cloudrunner said blushing

"Rainbow Dash. She seems to have grown on you."

"Oh...yeah Rainbow's something special alright. War has a way of bringing ponies together. Are you sure it's over? I only hoped to win a decisive battle here and reverse the tide."

"Luna told me earlier that upon hearing that all the Republic's leaders were dead, that Canterlot had fallen, and the Premier himself was gone, most generals and cities immediately surrendered. The rest were coerced by newly invigorated soldiers and civilians. It's just as you said, General."

"What did I say again?"

"Freedom never dies."

"Ponies naturally want to be free, you can't hold them down forever. Anyway, what will you do with those who have surrendered? Will they hang or be reintegrated?"

Celestia sighed. The burdens of being a leader: making the tough decisions. "Everypony will stand trial. Some fought against us for fear of the Republic. Others would have followed the Premier to hell and back. But first and foremost, we need to rebuild Equestria." She looked out the window at the damaged city. "It will be a long and difficult task. Look at this city. Canterlot was once the shining point for all Equestrians to look at. It reminded them of what could do. I fear that hope is gone."

The General came up behind her, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "You have pulled through worse. We can rebuild it again."

"Yes I know. I suppose I'm just worrying for nothing."

"It's because you care so much for this land."

She smiled at his sincerity. "Thank you. As do you. I can never thank you enough for what you have done, Cloudrunner."

"I only did my duty. all this praise is simply too much."

"Perhaps, but you have done a very unique thing. For many years I have known brave and strong generals and admirals, politicians and statesponies. Many found themselves defending me. Some perished in the process, those heroes. Others betrayed me for my throne. Still others ran away in cowardice. There were those who gave up when they became injured or suffered loss. But you, Cloudrunner, came back. Even in your own decrepit state, you carried my beloved sister to safety. You managed to pull together an army and take on Canterlot, to free your people. Your loyalty is near unmatched, and perhaps it was no coincidence that Rainbow Dash wandered to your fort."

The General looked out the window, trying to hide his face. "Really Princess, it was only right to do."

"The fact that you think so little of fighting on is a testament to your character. And even now, only death will make you stop. Rainbow Dash too came back from the loss of her home, barring all hardships. She wanted to save her friends, as you wanted for me. You two are very similar, so strong and dutiful...if a bit reckless..."

Cloudrunner couldn't help but chuckle. "I was looking for an officer, and found a...a daughter."

"And you gave her a father. That bond will last a lifetime."

The General reflected on his time with Rainbow Dash. How quickly she learned his moves. The times she tried to beat his record, only to fail. But Cloudrunner picked her up and told the pegasus to try again. How his heart sank when she was shot, and when his heart rose back up again when Rainbow decided to keep fighting. A tear once again fell down his cheek. This "crying" thing is getting old, he thought.

Princess Celestia noticed this, and felt true joy. Though she would outlive not only him and Rainbow, but their descendants for centuries to come, the sight of joy never ceased to make her happy. Though to her, everypony's lives were short, Celestia wanted nothing more than to see those lives filled with happiness. And as painful as it was to watch ponies suffer, Celestia knew hardships made the simple things in life appear all the more magical. A rainbow after the storm.

The two stood in front of the window for a few minutes. After she had received her fill, the Princess walked over to the bed. "Come General, it's late. We should get some sleep." She lay down and patted the sheets with her hoof.

Cloudrunner instead opened the window, and spread his wings. "In time, Princess. But for a little bit, let's have some fun." He leaped out of the room, flapping and gliding around, waiting for the royal pony.

Celestia rolled her eyes and followed him, racing up to catch the General. They maneuvered about, playing foalish games. To anypony else, it would've been unbecoming for both of them. Alone at night, they did not care.

Meanwhile, from a rooftop somewhere in the city, a dark blue pony stood, guarding the night. She looked up towards the moon and saw the silhouette of what appeared to be two pegasi embracing. The pony knew what she was looking at, and quietly muttered under her breath, "Get a room..."

Epilogue

A Twinkle of Hope - Epilogue

A week had passed since Canterlot fell a second time. Rainbow Dash and her friends returned to the ruins of Ponyville, intent on rebuilding their shattered home. Spike, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were all rescued and brought back with their older siblings, after a very...interesting...adventure. The children were fine, unharmed. The zookeepers caring for Spike were especially benevolent. But he was glad to be free.

The few stallions that survived came back, including Big Macintosh. Some ponies though did not come back. For them, the pain of losing not only Ponyville, but their loved ones along with it was simply too much. They had found new lives in the cities they were deported to. They once again found happiness.

Ponyville now was a town littered with homes under construction, with exposed frames and pipes, wires and insulation. Everypony did their part. Wealthy ponies reclaimed their fortunes confiscated by the Premier, and donated much of it to towns just like Ponyville, trying to rebuild a home.

Though the ponies of the town would never be the same, and the blight of war would remain within their minds, the ponies moved forward. They did not wish to forget the war.

In the town square, where a statue of Celestia once stood, was another edifice. The Princess gave the town her blessing, and a new memorial was erected; the bronze form of that unicorn shot and killed by Republic soldiers. It was a monument to her courage, and the sacrifice of all those who perished fighting. The mare did not have a name as far as the statue was concerned; she did not need one.

For the Mare of Liberty stood not just for herself, but the very spirit of freedom. She stood to remind everypony of those that would not bow to a tyrant, or accept the shackles of servitude. That unicorn was testament to the ponies who would not go quietly into that good night.

Hammering and drilling filled the air as a pegasus descended on the town. He flew over to ask another pony on the whereabouts of his friend.

She was a cerise earth-pony, and struck the pegasus as the kind to always have a smile on her face. "Excuse me ma'am. Do you know where I might find a pegasus named Rainbow Dash?"

"Oh certainly sir. She's by Sweet Apple Acres. It's not far, just a mile or so that way." She pointed in the general direction.

He was thrown off by the sound of her voice. It was...very familiar...almost like... "Thank you miss...uh..."

"Cheerilee"

He nodded and went off to where he was directed. Below him came the freshly tilled fields of the farm, and a new barn rising, just a skeleton of wood right now. Scanning the acres, he spotted the mare he was looking for, flying low over some beams she was hammering.

Swooping down he met with Rainbow Dash. "General! So glad you could make it!" She placed her hammer in her tool belt.

"Well I wouldn't miss an opportunity to meet one of your friends." He smiled, picking up a board. "Though it seems you have some work. Mind if I help?"

"No sir, it's our break anyway."

The two floated down to the ground. Applejack called everypony in some ice cold apple juice. Cloudrunner cantered, followed by a flying Rainbow. She notice though he wasn't limping. "General, what's going on, you aren't...well...you're walking..."

"Huh? Oh...yeah! They did a little work on my hip. Now I can run now." He glanced at Rainbow's knee. "Seems like you've recovered."

"Not exactly. I don't have to where the cast, but the doctors have told me not to put any weight on my leg for a week or so."

"Injuries can be a pain." They giggled as his terrible pun, and proceeded to enjoy a cup of apple juice. Shortly after Rainbow rushed off to fetch a little orange filly pegasus. She led her up to a large dark grey stallion. His mane was a dark blue, and wore an eye patch. On his flank was a lightning bolt stylized to look like an arrow.

He leaned down closer to the filly. "Hello there. You must be Scootaloo."

"Uh...yes that's me. Are you the General? Rainbow's told me a lot about you. But she didn't say you were so...big."

"I wasn't always so big, neither were my wings. In fact, when I was your age, my wings were so small they couldn't carry me for more than a few seconds."

"Really? 'Cause all the foals say I'll never fly. They say I'm different from other pegasi." She gave a sad look, and looked at the ground.

"Sometimes, we different pegasi bloom later than others. But don't worry. If you're anything like me, you're wings'll catch up." He spread his out, his wingspan on par with Luna's. Scootaloo's eyes sparkled at the great pegasus.

Rainbow was worried her biggest fan would replace her. "Alright enough showing off. How about a race to see who's fastest. And to add insult to injury, I'll beat your record while beating you!"

Cloudrunner's face grew determine. "You're on!"

An hour later a rudimentary starting line was drawn in the dirt. Applejack came with a crude flag in her mouth. The two adult pegasi got into position. Applejack set the flag down. The four other elements of harmony and their siblings were watching from the sidelines.

"Alright, ya'll. I want a good, clean race. Go from here, around the hills, and come back. And General? Try to keep Rainbow from cheatin'."

Rainbow shot the farm pony a dirty look. Applejack picked up the flag. Each of the racers started breathing slowly, anticipating the race. After what seemed like hours, Applejack waved the flag, and all that remained at the starting line where two clouds of dust.

Racing a breakneck speed, the two were head to head. the hills were a fair distance away, and yet they reached them after a few minutes. Rounding about, both began to build up a massive amount of speed. they were going so fast Rainbow noticed a cone of air form. She smiled and started to dart ahead. But then she noticed the same cone in front of Cloudrunner.

"Haha you think you're the only one, kid?" In truth the General was panting somewhat trying to keep up.

“You may have done it first, but I perfected the trick!” Rainbow Dash too was a bit tired.

She was deterred, and continued to accelerate. Still neck and neck, the finally burst came as the very air shattered, and the two propelled themselves nearly simultaneously. One left a trial of rainbow, the other a trial of lightning. The resulting shockwave shook the ground, amazing everypony, Scootaloo most of all. She stood, her wings flared out in part excitement and part subconscious desire to join in. Her eyes were filled with the most awesome sight her beheld by any pony anywhere ever: a double sonic rainboom.

The finish came in hot. Twilight had set up a camera to record the winner. The spent pegasi made their way back from the stopping point several hundred yards away. Both eagerly awaited the results. Twilight and others examined the photo for a long while, drawing impatience from Rainbow Dash and Cloudrunner.

Finally, after much arbitration, debate, and even some geometrical measurements. A final verdict was made:

The race to determine the fastest pegasus to ever grace the clouds, had ended in a tie.

The End

Prologue

A Twinkle of Hope - Prologue

Four years have passed since that faithful shot was fired in Fillydelphia. The national guard was sent deal with the "Equalist Movement". But that battle was lost. The city fell to the Rebels, and thus began the Civil War. The horrors of war haunt the minds of all those who participate, especially when the enemy is family or friend. The ideologies set forth by each side revolved around one key issue: Who deserves to rule Equestria?

For centuries the two Alicorns have looked over the land, granting it beautiful days and enchanting nights. The two ruled justly, and Equestria flourished under their guidance. Still there existed those who thought the Sun and Moon where obsolete, relics of a bygone era holding on to the last remnants of the old ways. Thus was the germ of the Equalists, preaching a world where anypony could rule, and where the archaic doctrines of magic were superseded by scientific discovery, burying the old practices where they rightfully belong, in the history books, along with the Alicorn.

But this feeling was not shared by all. To them, the two Princesses belonged at the helm of the kingdom, and performing their duties of raising and lowering the heavenly bodies. The world was in balance. The world was as it should be. And those that held these things to be true, and indeed self-evident, the Equalists sought to tear down establishment for their own anarchic purposes.

And ponies fought to prove they were right. If things can be proven right by those who make the rules, the Equalists had fought the good fight. But the glorious fantasy envisioned by the agitators never came. Great ideas were preached; ones of truth, justice, equality, freedom. But those virtues are now perverted. Only ignorance, fear, and oppression remain.

Now the war draws to a close. The remnants of Equestria's once proud military take refuge in a location as of yet unknown to the Equalist leaders. There the last light of everything their once mighty kingdom held dear endures. The ponies that seek to defend it do so because it is something worth fighting, and dying for. The tyrant wishes to lull them to sleep with sweet, empty promises. But they will not go quietly into that good night...

Chapter 1

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 1

Marshal Powderkeg looked around the war room. Staff officers were frantically running about, deeply afraid of the Marshal's dissatisfaction. He was prone to explosive bouts of anger, which usually ended in a commission being revoked. The war was almost over, and the general didn't wish to keep the Premier waiting.

"Generals! Assemble! I promised the Senate I would have Equestria subdued by next week!" the Marshal bellowed. His voice was naturally loud, and was only filled with annoyance, much to the relief of everyone in the room. The Generals all took a seat at the large rectangular table in the center. "Good. Now General Chevauchee, this invasion was your task to plan. Let us hear it."The Marshal was a broad-chested giant of an Earth-Pony, whose voice simply commanded authority.

The unicorn immediately got up and cleared his throat: "Yes sir! The 5th Armored Division is ready now for deployment. The plan is to do a swift sweep of the desired region, eliminating all pockets of Rebel activity. The 46th Squadron is primed to provide air support. By this time next week, we shall have total victory." He quietly sat down, staring timidly at Powderkeg.

"Excellent! I give the orders: execute the invasion plans at once. Rally the troops!" The Marshal saluted with his right hoof.

All his officers rose and saluted likewise, saying in unison "Sir yes sir!" One pegasus general however approached Powderkeg and asked him where the invasion was going to be.

The Earth-pony gave a slight smile, looking down on his subordinate. With his booming voice he uttered: "Ponyville."