A Twinkle of Hope

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.