The walls of the castle shook as the two entities battled, fighting, ever struggling to get the upper hoof on that other. Princess Celestia fought her hated rival Queen Cryslis. The Changeling Queen fought for any means to defeat the one pony that stood in her way. It wasn't about power anymore. It wasn't even about revenge. No, this clash of will was about survival. Not just for herself, but all her children that made up the Changeling Horde.
“Celestia! Stop!” Luna cried out, but no sound could escape the sphere or green that encumbered her. “No! This is what she wants! DON'T Play her game!”
The hall ways of the castle were filling with the numberless horde of dark, loathsome creatures, known only as changelings, turning into other ponies, fighting, killing, feasting on the fear and anger of those around them. This is what their mother had promised them. This is the final catch, this would be the last time they'd ever have to remember going hungry, because today their Queen, their Mother, Crylis would kill the ruling Alicorns once and for all.
Down the hall, at the guest chambers, another struggle could be heard.
“You ponies get out of here!” Writer yelled to E'ma, RJ, Penn, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity. “This isn't you're fight! Princess Twilight, come with me, we must go to Celestia now!”
“Uncle!” E'ma called out red maned mare, her gray fur clashing against the white walls of the Sun Princess's castle. “I'm not going to leave you!”
“E'ma! Now is not—”
But the gray mare interrupted, tears standing in her eyes. “I've lost all my family! I'm not going to lose my adopted uncle.
The Aligon, half dragon half Alicorn, knew that arguing with her would be pointless. He could see the fire in her eyes, and he knew that look of determination well. He nodded as Penn joined the ranks as well.
“I will not leave my Princess in her time of need. I might just be a transcriber, but I'm no less a warrior than RJ.”
RJ gritted his teeth. “Alright, you four get to the throne room fast! Come one ponies, we need to get the buck out here! You know what to do!”
Normally the five other mares would never leave Twilight's side, they were the best of friends, but this was different. They knew what an all out asalt from the Changeling Horde meant. Now Each of the mares had a job to do, a job that only they could do to keep Equestria alive, and though it felt like their hearts were being ripped out, they knew that a day like this would come.
“To Ponyville 'y'all!” Apple Jack called out. “Rarity, you know what to do! We need as many of those gems to magnify the magic beams of any unicrons. Pinkie, get to Fillydolphia faster than a vampire bat on my apples!”
“Yes m'am!” Pinkie saluted, serious for the first time since her last day on the rock farm. “I'll meet up with Cheese Sandwich, and we'll hold off the horde until Dashie can bring reinforcements from Cloudsdale.”
Rainbow nodded. “Fluttershy, get the woodland creatures and hold off the Ever Free Forest! Don't let of them rotten Changelings get past you or you're animals Until the Wonderbolts can get to Manehatten, you're their only defense! Hold them for as long as you can.”
“I'll do my best.” The shy pony said with finality. She might be a push over most days, but if anyone threatened her friends, she'd be the first to kick tail and take names. “RJ, find you friends once we get back. We'll need you all to help fortify the town.”
RJ nodded, turning to his friend, hoping it wouldn't be the last time he'd ever see him alive.
“Anything you want me to pass on to you're girl?”
Penn looked uneasy for a moment, as if considering his own mortality for the first time. He nodded, whispering something into his best friend's ear. All prepared themselves as some pony, or changeling started to kick in the door. They waited on baited breath, until the wooden door finally splintered apart.
A flood of black changelings charged in as Writer led the way out, every pony doing their best to kick, head butt, bite, stomp and beat their way thru. Once in the hallway, the party split into two, Writer and RJ leading their respective groups in opposite directions.
The corridors were a mess of carnage, dead or dying guards lay beside black changelings, still struggling to continue the battle, even on the brink of death. Blood pooled in the corners of the hall way, being spread by the hooves of the living. Writer fixed his terrifying gaze on the way ahead, remembering another time, long ago, where he first learned that it didn't matter which side you were on, friend or foe, you all bled red.
Barging into the throne room, the fours witnessed their greatest horror. Celestia, the greatest of all living Alicorns had been ran thru with the wicked Queen's crooked horn.
“NOW YOU'RE KINGDOM IS MINE!” Cryslis screamed, but there was no triumph, only desperation that was driving at her sanity.
“NO!” Twilight froze in place as she watched her beloved teacher struggle to keep standing, thick drops of bright red blood trickling down the black, decayed horn of the Horde Mother, but the look in her eye said that she was not about to just lay over and die.
“Twilight....Keep...Hope...” Princess Celestia breathed, steadying herself for what she was about to do next. “...We'll...meet....Again...i....I'm sure....Of it....” And with that, the white Alicorn closed her eyes, letting out a soft wave of magic.
At first, nothing happened, then slowly, Celestia, the Princess of the Sun, started turning into stone. The Changeling Queen didn't realize what was going on, until it was too late. Panicking, she tried to pull her way out of the now stony chest of her adversary, but to no avail.
“Come...My sister....Of battle....Let us....Rest for....A....while....” In a dull flash of gray, both Sun Princess and Horde Mother were solidified in stone.
The green sphere of magic that held Princess Luna captive shattered.
“NOOO!” Both Princesses ran forward, only to be stopped by the Aligon.
“No, I'm sorry, but you can't! There's nothing you can do now.” With sorrow filled eyes, Cosmic Writer looked over his shoulder at the stature that was once the mare he knew so long ago. “There's no turning back.”
Luna stared helplessly from Aligorn to stone Alicorn and broke down and cried. Twilight however just stared, stunned at what just transpired. Then, something clicked. Something that might work. Something that was so impossible, it just might be the right thing to do.
Writer had lived long enough to know that look. “Penn, get E'ma out of here! NOW!” The might in his voice, the true dragon voice he was born with echoed off the walls, silencing Luna's tears, causing Penn to grab the hoof of the young charge and bolt from the throne room.
“Twilight.” Write said, his voice level, but the Princess wasn't listening. Her stunned face turning into a thoughtful one as she calculated her idea. “Listen too me. It won't work. Don't do this, just walk away now.”
But Princess Twilight looked up into his face. “No.” She stated. “I know about this spell. It can be undone.”
The Aligon shook his head. “You don't understand. The spell was done by Celestia. Only she could undo this spell, and she'd no longer with us. She can't.”
“Don't say that!” Twilight yelled, covering her ears with her fore hooves. “She's not gone she's here! She's here!”
Writer braced himself. “She's DEAD! Dead, Twilight! Do you understand the words coming out of my mouth?!? DEAD!”
Luna, still struggling from this reality, realized what Writer was trying to do, seeing the denial on the yonger Princess's face.
“He's right.” The Princess of the Moon said, her voice trembling. “She's gone. She sacrificed herself for Equestria.”
Twilight slowly turned on to her, then back to Writer. A gleam came into her eyes as something clicked, snapped and slapped her mind into overdrive.
“You're agreeing with him?” The young mare took a step back. “No, you wanted this. You wanted Celestia out of the way.” She looked at Writer, who was shocked by what he had heard. “You wanted to marry each other.” She turned her attention back to Luna. “You weren't content with being a co-princess. You wanted to be Queen!” Pointing an accusing hoof at Writer. “And you KING! I see it now! You never accepted her! And now you telling me she's dead. NO, I will NOT have THIS!”
The glint in here eyes turned into a glow, that spread until her eyes were brilliant white, filling with her uncontrolled magic that she'd only used a few times before.
“You were in on all of this!” She roared. “Princess Celestia, come back to me!”
In an explosion, the anti stone spell the purple mare cast rebounded on the walls, filling the room, and every stone in the stone room, save it were the floor, shattered, hurling shards of the once Celestia stature, out away from the castle, into Equestria below.
“NO!” Twilight's voice screamed. “NO!” And her final string of sanity snapped. Twilight's eyes burned even brighter as her mane and fur began to ripple and change. “You want a queen? Then I shall GIVE you a QUEEN!”
All thru the castle and he land, all fighting had stopped. Every pony, ever changeling, ever creature of ever size stopped, and looked towards the now open throne room.
“Hear me! I am Queen Dark Sun, ruler of the Sun and Moon, giver of Life and Death. And I am displeased! Hear me, and fear me! For you're final hours have come.” The moon, unbidden by Princess Luna, rose up to block the light giving sun, setting the world below in a permanent twilight state.
“Oh, come now, come now.” All ponies snapped their heads back to the door way, where Discord stood, leaning against the now pointless wooden door frame. “All this doom and gloom? Death and destruction? How do you expect to rule if there is nothing to rule over?”
Queen Dark Sun, mane now of black and yellow, fur of back and yellow splotches, a black moon with a yellow silhouette for a cutie mark, watched Discord with expressionless eyes.
Discord bowed. “I do not intend to disrespect you, my Queen, but if you simply wipe out the face of the land, there's no fun to be had. Name me King, and I will rule under you're hoof, if not out of loyalty, out of fun, to entertain you with my silly antics.”
Queen Dark Sun thought for a moment. “Entertain me, and I will let you keep you're toys. Displease me, and destroy you, but not before obliterating everything you love.”
Discord nodded.
“But first.” Dark Sun said, turning her gaze to Princess Luna. “With a Queen, we need no Princess.”
But before the Dark Queen could vaporize Princess Luna, a small, razor sharp dagger caught the Queen in the chest, the steal blade crumpling as if it were not but tissue. A lone Pegasus, pink maned and a crescent moon with star on her purple fur, stood between Princess Luna and her executioner.
“Moon Chaser!” Luna gasped. “Get out of here!”
“Not without you, My Princess.” Moon Chaser snorted. “If you want Princess Luna, you'll have to go thru me.”
Queen Dark Sun allowed a smile. “As you wish.”
“Now, see, this is what I'm talking about.” Discord interrupted, his voice displeased from the change of events. “There you go again with kill, kill, kill. Really, I have better plans for these two.”
The Dark Queen turned her power filled eyes on the Draconequus. “What would you have me do?” There was a soft challenge in her velvet tone that put every pony on edge.
Discord laughed. “I've got an idea, just bear with me and let it roll.” Discord walked up to Moon Chaser, and motioned for Princess Luna to come forward. “Here it is,” He whispered, his voice now panicky and serious. “You must find all of Princess Celestia's shards. Bring them together and get the elements of Harmony back. That's the only way to bring her back to life. Trust me. It worked on me twice before. I can honestly say it works.
Glancing over his shoulder, Discord added, quite loudly. “And I'm not going to make this scavenger hunt easy on you two. A few traps that will be sure to kill you, if not mortality maim you. Turn you against each other. Chocolate rain. You know, that sort of fun stuff. Now off you go.”
And with that, the Draconequus snapped his eagle claw and both ponies in question vanished.
“And where did you send them?” The Queen asked.
“Oh, just a scavenger hunt. Gave them a little bit of hope on how to bring their precious Princess back and sent them off to their doom. Trust me, it will be so good, you'll stay up all night with the reruns. I've already got three seasons booked for it, heheheh, they better not disappoint.”
“Now, as for you.” The Dark Queen turned her attention to Writer. “I'm bored with you, and too tired to spend time on you.”
The force that hit the Aligon was like none other he'd ever felt before. When he finally came too, he was in the ruins of his house, E'ma by his side, looking worried.
“Uncle, uncle, wake up.”
“I'm up.” He breathed, wincing as he rose to his feet. “What happened to Penn?”
E'ma started to cry. So much had happened and she tried to be brave, but it was too much for her now.
“Once we got out of the castle, we we found our friends, only they weren't our friends. They were changelings. Penn recognized before it was too late, and told me to gallop. He stayed behind to hold them off. I-I don't know if he made it.”
“RJ? Did you see him?” Writer asked, his voice catching. He had known Penn for years, and he'd rather like the young stallion.
E'ma nodded. “He met up with our friends here at the house, but that's when the Horde attacked. I got separated and found you here. I've been keeping us hidden and safe.”
Writer nodded. “Good girl. Now,” He turned to look at the castle, now surrounded by a strange purple force field. “It's time to find our friends and take back Equestria.”
* * * * *
Ponyville, once a vibrant hub of pony life, rich in color and cloture of the small town pony, lay in ruins. City hall was nothing more than a half structure of half burnt wood, and any house or shop still standing was slowly smoldering, sending a stream of grayish white smoke to choke the air.
“This...this is bad.” Cosmic Writer, the tall Aligorn sighed. “Far worse than I'd even dream of happening.”
E'ma, Writer's adopted niece, tried to keep back her tears, which seemed to leak out of the corners of her eyes without her bidding. How could this happen to the place she learned to call home?
“There were bodies.” She choked out, looking away from the places of smeared blood that painted the formerly green grass. “When we, RJ's group and I, got separated, there were bodies all around town.”
The Aligon nodded, feeling sickened. “Not anymore. It seems that some Changelings have learned to consume substance and not just emotion.”
From one of the collapsed houses came a noise. A very weak, and helpless noise.
“Help...please...some pony...help.”
E'ma leaped forward to dash to the aid of the stranded pony, but her Uncle held out his leg, holding her back. She looked at him in shock. Writer was the kindest pony she'd ever met. Why would he stop her from helping a pony in need?
He'd done the same so many times. He even went out of his way to clear up a misunderstanding between her and Princess Sparkle. By chance, thru that fateful meeting, the truth about the invisible attack from the Changeling Horde was discovered, but they were too late in stopping the attack.
“E'ma, we don't know if that is a pony or a Changeling. Until we can spot the difference, we need to keep our heads clear and protect ourselves.”
“Writer?...Writer, help!” Called the unknown pony, her familiar voice pleaded.
Writer acted instantly, galloping forward, using his magic to burst the debris that was holding the pony down inside the collapsed building. A blue horn became visible as a very weak Trixie struggled to stand. E'ma, who was never more than two steps away from her Uncle, trotted to her side, helping her to stand.
“Trixie? Are you okay? Where are you hurt?” E'ma asked, eyes full of concern.
Trixie shook her head. “I just need to breathe.” She replied, her weak legs shaking visibly. “The town was under attack before we could get ready. Writer, we underestimated their speed, we didn't have time to use Rarities crystals and Fluttershy and her animals weren't even gathered when they charged in. We did our best, but we were over run-ed in a minutes.”
Writer's heart sank. “Are you injured?”
“No,” Trixie sighed, more annoyed than relieved. “Those little tramps are smarter than I thought they'd be. They saw me sniping out of the second story window, so they just brought the whole place down. If it wasn't for that bubble shield you taught me...”
Trixie never finished the thought. They all knew what she was going to say, and the evidence of the could be out come was splattered everywhere.
“We should go.” E'ma voiced after a moment of somber silence. “RJ said if the town falls or we get separated, we should meet at Sweet Apple Orchard.”
The other ponies nodded in agree meant, slowly making their way thru the remains of town, Writer leading the way, ready for any Changeling who stuck around for survivors. But, but as they walked, they saw no signs of living, or dead, ponies, and that really concerned the Aligon.
Changelings were evil creatures at heart, changing form to feed off the love and strong emotions of a pony. Though they had teeth, they did not eat actual substance. Any normal Changeling would just leave the corpses of the dead ponies behind. No point in taking it with them, but then why were there no dead bodies?
Out side of town, the grass became green again and the air cleared of smoke. Other than the smudges of dirt and soot on the ponies, this could look like three friends taking a stroll out of town. Then that pony would look up and see the ominous blackhole of a sun, and reality would set back in that all was far from well.
On that happy thought, it didn't take them too long to reach Sweet Apple Orchard.
“Writer! E'ma! Trixie!” RJ flashed in front of them, his face full of relief. “Glad you made it. We got to act fast! Apple Jack left me in charge here, as she had to take her family to Appleulsa. She's going to fort up there, she's hoping she can save that town since Ponyville is...lost.” RJ set his face in a grimace. “The Changelings are massing again. I think they're going to strike before night.”
Trixie looked up at the Dark Sun, noticing it for the first time. “What happened there?”
“No time to explain.” Writer answered.
“Is Penn with you?” E'ma asked RJ. “We were separated when we were attacked outside of the castle.”
RJ looked shocked. “No, I thought he was with you! He never made it to the meeting spot.”
“Penn's missing?!” Trixie's blue face drained of blood as her stomach turned to ice. “My Penn is missing?!?”
Writer covered her with a wing. “Time and a place, and neither are it right now.” He had to think fast. They had a matter of hours left before the sun dipped below the horizon, if RJ was right. “RJ, gather every pony here, and lead them to the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters.”
“Why there?” RJ asked confused.
“Because, it's the only place I can protect with my magic. Also, it's a defend able place with resources. We have to think stagey. I want you to put a pony in charge of leading the way. Take Neon Magic, Scar and Melody with you to hold off the rear and flanks, and you'll have to just jump to any place else you're needed.”
RJ nodded. This would be risky, but there was no alternative. “Melody!” He called out. “Get Neon, and Scar, I need to talk to you three.” RJ glanced at his Aligon friend, who nodded in agreement. “Trixie, I'd like you to head the escort.”
“No!” Trixie's eyes were tearing up, despite the wrath that was on her face. “I'm going out to find Penn and bring him back!”
“No.” RJ told her gently. “We need you here. That's what Penn would have wanted. I'm sure he's okay, and hiding out until the heat is over. He's not much of a fighter, but Penn is smart, and his smarts has saved us more times than I care to count.”
Trixie didn't look pleased. “Fine! But as soon as we're safe, I'm off to find my Stallion. I love him too much for any pathetic Changeling to simply snatch him away from me.”
“Good.” Writer nodded. “I'll fly to the castle and start setting up the defenses.”
“I'm coming too!” E'ma stated. “I'll be useful. I can clear out the hallways and make room for every pony.”
Writer chose not to argue. He simply knelt down, slipped his head and neck under his niece and stood up, shrugging her into place, as he had done many times before. Without a word, he launched himself into the air, his dragon wings beating the air, stirring the rich smells of the orchard with the smoky decay that was drifting down wind from town.
“Okay every pony listen up!” RJ called out, making his way back to the mass of ponies, many who were injured, but still ready to fight. “We're going to the old castle. Trixie is going to lead the way while me and a team of ponies are going to keep the horde off your tails. Writer went ahead to prepare defenses. We'll leave in two hours. Any questions?”
A hoof shot into the air. “Yeah, I have a question!” It was Lily, the pink furred, yellow maned pony. “How are we going to survive? Ponyville was completely demolished! How can the old castle be any better?”
There was a murmur of agreement with Lily's question. How could they be safe in ruins when a town couldn't keep them safe?
“I say we fight!” A retired veteran called out. There were shouts of agreement.
“And accomplish what?” A pony asked loudly. “What would we accomplish if we die here?” The pony made her way to the front. Rarity, smudged with soot and blood from cuts she got and hair in such a dreadful state that she would have fainted over in the past, stood boldly in front of the group of survivors. “
“Listen to me all of you!” She yelled clearly. “Ponyville is lost, but we are not! We have each other, and we'll make it! If we stand and fight today then the sacrifices of our friends will be in vain! Would you want to spit on the gift of life they gave to you by laying down their own?”
The clearing was so silent, every pony almost jumped out of their skin when a twig cracked in the wind.
“Rarity is right.” RJ told them all. “We need safety, and that castle will give us that. We leave in two hours, that is all.”
The ponies dispersed, some gathering apples from the trees while others got needed supplies from the barn and house. A few, too exhausted to do more, simply found a soft patch of grass and fell into fitful sleep.
Neon Magic, Scar and Melody stood before RJ. “Okay, here's the set up. Trixie is going to head the column. She's so keyed up right now that she'd vaporize any Changeling that so much as peeks into view. That's going to leave the sides and rear to us.”
The ponies nodded.
RJ pointed to Neon Magic, a purple Pegasus with rainbow mane and tail and a rainbow heart for a cutie mark. She also had different colored hearts climbing her left foreleg.
“Neo, I want you in the air with you're paintball gun. Call them as you see them. I'll cover the right of the column.”
Scar, a gray mare covered in scars with red and black for a mane and tail stepped forward. “Me and Tech know all about how to follow the enemy and how to spot trackers. I'll stay in the rear and keep my distance to try and...discourage any pony from following us.”
RJ nodded. “I like that idea. Melody, you take the left. I'll have any pony who's still in fighting shape to line the sides of the columns. You coordinate them on you're side. Got it?”
Melody, a gray mare with a yellow mane and tail and a ruler over paper for a cutie mark nodded. She was still a bit shy around the Realm Jumper, but she knew the ponies she would be working with well enough to feel confident in her role as flank leader.
“Good, get some rest. We'll be getting every pony lined up and ready to head out in an hour in a half.”
RJ, however, felt too on edge to take his own advice and sought out the one pony he'd been wanted to talk to. He found Tech sitting under an apple tree, looking neither scared nor nervous about the happenings of the day.
“Hey, babe.” He sat next to his mare, who leaned her head on his shoulder. “How are you holding up?”
“Bad question.” She replied. “Try again.”
“You okay?”
“Uhgg, even worse. Try again.”
RJ didn't use words this time. He just turned and kissed her. Their silent kiss lasted for a few minutes, both saying more with the connection of their lips than they could have said with a thousand words.
Both were scared, both were worried about their friends. Both were feeling like what was happening now, with Queen Dark Sun and Celestia shattering was so bucked up. But most of all, both felt that if this would be their last moments together in this life, they would spend it together, side by side, hoof in hoof and love in their hearts. Finally, they broke connection.
“You better make it to me in one piece.” Gear Tech said, nuzzling RJ's cheek.
“If I make it back, be grateful for what ever pieces are left of me.” RJ jibed back, hugging his mare-friend close. “I only have so much luck. One of these days it's going to run out.”
Tech sighed. “I guess if that's the case, I'll have to find another stallion who's as cute and funny as you.”
“Trying to make me jealous of the mirror, babe?”
Tech shrugged. “It was worth a shot.”
RJ sighed, letting the conversation hang. As he watched the sun sink, he saw something. A little black figure that popped out from the surrounding forest. Then he spied another figure, and another and another and—
“Every Pony line up now! The Changelings are here!”
* * * * * *
Hidden behind the trees, the Changelings watched their prey. Their fangs dripping with saliva, their eyes staring hungrily they watched every move of the group of ponies that had gathered at Sweet Apple Orchard. They waited, as the Alagon took his flight, leaving the other ponies without a protector. Now was the time. Hissing down the line, all of the black pony like abominations stepped out of the forest ready to feast.
RJ jumped his way thru the group, flashing into on place, yelling out orders, getting the ponies organized and flashing another place, getting Melody and her squad ready for the incoming attack.
“We don't have time.” He told the gray mare. “I need five minutes. Get to it!”
Melody nodded. It was time for action. “Blaze, Blitz and Painted! I want you three to charge the middle. Neon, I want you in the sky. Any who try and get past our flanks, take them down! Scar, I want you to take Tech and Gin around behind them and make them think we're behind them. With any luck, that will confuse them until it's time to pull out. Move!”
As Neon Magic, her rainbow mane whipping back from take off, took to the sky, the other ponies charged forward.
RJ didn't have a moment to watch or wish his friends luck as he still had to get the ponies out of sight.
“Rarity, up front with Trixie. I want you cast a shield spell as you gallop. It will take you all at lest an hour to get to the old castle, so switch off with Trixe ever ten minutes. Don't worry about anything, just gallop as hard as you can!”
“On it!” Rarity called out, taking her place next to her former adversary. “If we survive this, I really should make you that dress you've been bugging me for.”
Trixie laughed, a laugh of exhaustion and nerves. “It might be a little hard to make a dress without the pony, because as soon as we get to safety, I'm going off in search for my Stallion.”
Rarity nodded knowingly. “I bet Spike is at the castle. I sure hope that little lump of scales is doing alright. I don't know what's going on here, and I worry about him.”
“Are you two a couple now?” Trixie asked, preparing herself for an all out gallop.
“Yes.” Rarity started casting her protection spell over the thirty ponies of their party. “He got up the courage and asked me just before all this happened. He was so cute doing it too.”
Trixie laughed. “We'll get Penn and Spike back, then we can go on a double date.”
There was the signal from RJ, time to gallop.
“I'd like that.” Rarity smiled.
And they galloped, leading the group of scared ponies to nothing more than a hope and a promise of safety.
Melody couldn't risk a glance backwards, to see how the group was faring. She continued to bark out orders, as she kicked, bucked, bit and stamped on any foul Changeling that came her way.
“Blitz is down!” Blaze called out, his face splatted with blood.
Melody didn't even look. “Neon! Support fire!”
“Tasted Paint you Mother Buckers!” Neon swooped down, hovering fifteen feet of the ground, laying down waves upon waves of paint filled bullets into the eyes and face of any Changeling foolish enough to charge towards the downed stallion. Painted, a feisty Pegasus of green and blue with a paint brush of a cutie mark, rushed forward, helping Blaze get Blitz up and retreat.
A Changeling charged as the two ponies tried to help Blitz to his hooves, but Painted coolly lashed out with her wing,catching the creature, catching him full in the face. With lightning fast reflexes, Painted arched her neck back, grabbed on of her paint brushes hidden in her feathery wings, and slashed out, green paint splattering over the Changeling's face as she brushed a sharp stroke across his open eyes, causing the black abomination to drop on his knees and try to wipe the stinging paint from his eyes.
From behind enemy lines three ponies rose up and started laying waste to the fresh horde members who had yet to see action. The confusion was what Melody hoped for, and she lead the others to charge, spear heading into the mob, which now had lost it's momentum. All fought as hard as they could, until the mass dispersed, fear overcoming hunger, scattering out across the orchard.
“Pull out!” Melody commanded, leading the small group of ponies back to where the refuges once were.
“Damage reports?”
“Low on ammo.” Neon reported in, checking up on her gun. “I used up two thirds of my paint balls.”
“No injuries here.” Scar replied for her team.
“I'm fine.” Blitz said, breathing hard. “Just got kicked in the ribs one to many times.”
“We're good.” Blaze and Painted added.
Melody nodded, pleased. “Okay, now—”
RJ flashed into their circle. “We've got to go! The main group is getting hemmed in by another group of Changelings.”
In a flash of blue, all the ponies vanished from view to appear in different spots around the refugees, who were still galloping surrounded by a transparent blue force field. RJ was blitzing around, flashing up to spin around and kick a Changeling in the head to flash and knock the teeth out of another one on the opposite side of the retreating party.
None of the ponies wasted time in joining the action. Melody, adrenalin pumping thru her body, yelled out orders, while picking up fallen branches and swinging them like clubs or throwing them like javelins, even hitting a few surprised Changelings, pinning them to the ground, where they gurgled out their last breaths of life.
Neon Magic buzzed around like a humming bird, nailing any black creature that got too close to the galloping group. However it didn't take long before:
“I'm out!”
RJ launched himself in the air, doing a back flip, bicycle kicking a few that jumped up after him. As he passed by Neon Magic, his horn glowed blue, and her pain ball magazine filled up with little led balls.
“Shoot to kill.” He said seriously, as he seemed to hover in the air. Neon grimaced and nodded. This wasn't about them anymore. This was about the group, and protecting them at all costs.
RJ dropped to the ground, adding a magic shock wave, launching ten Changelings into the air, all of which met the deadly shot of Neo's skill with a gun.
Scar and Tech worked as a team, triping up Changelings, tossing up rocks which the other would kick straight into the face or flank of a black creature, either killing it instantly, or putting it out of action. With their skill, they kept the rear of the column completely Changeling free, with Gin popping up and smacking any stray Changeling they might have missed in the face with a stout branch.
After what seemed like an hour of this, the Changelings retreated, leaving the group alone, entering in to the forest.
“We've got another half hour to go!” RJ called out to the support team as he galloped in time with the group. “Keep an eye out! They'll hit us again before we get there, I'm sure of it!”
As they galloped, their hooves beating the soft ground into a hard path, they kept a weary eye out.
“Rarity! Trixie! How you faring?” The Realm Jumper called out.
“Do you want to do this?” Both demanded, clearly working together and being near a breaking point.
“Doing just fien then.” RJ muttered to himself. This was not good. They still had another twenty minutes, and there was no way that they'd last that long. If the Changelings attacked again, they'd be sure to loose several ponies, and their defense team was looking worn down. Even Scar and Tech, two of the most capable ponies RJ knew, were looking tired. The strain of keeping up and defending a fast moving party was getting to them all. The only way to fix this would be...
“I've got an idea!” RJ yelled to Trixie.
“Will it get us there faster?” The blue mare asked, sweat streaking down her fur from the strain of galloping, talking and concentrating on the barrier spell all at once.
The yellow stallion flashed to her side.
“Yes.” RJ said with a slight moment of hesitation.
“What's the catch?” Trixie asked. She knew her Stallion's roommate too well to know he wouldn't say yes that way unless he was about to suggest something that was dangerous in one way or another.
“If it doesn't work, you won't have me around.”
“Tell me.”
“If I've got a few minutes to charge, I can jump us all to the castle. Its a stain to take more than three ponies, and I've never tired a group as big as this. It might be too much for me and just jump me, but it's worth a shot. If you two keep up like this, you'll die before the shield has a chance to break.”
Rarity grimaced, slowing down the group, to a trot. “You noticed.”
“Keep it up long enough for me to charge up, and I'll get us there.”
Melody trotted to the head of the column, wondering why they had slowed to a stop, arriving at the tail end of the conversation.
“Melody,” Rarity nodded. “RJ needs a few minutes to jump us the rest of the way. We'll need you and the defense line to protect him.”
“What about the rest of the group?”
Trixie thought for a moment. “We'll need to keep in in the center of every pony, so he doesn't have to reach out as far to jump us.”
“I'll form up the line at once.” The gray mare nodded. She trotted back to the defense line and started briefing them.
RJ knelt down, so he was sitting on all for knees, and closed his eyes, drawing in his energy and tapping into his magic. The other ponies surrounded him all waiting in a nervous silence. Slowly, the minutes ticked by. Something rustled a bush at the edge of the clearing they were in, and then another rustle came from a nearer spot.
With glee in their dead eyes, the Changelings walked slowly out of the bushes to their waiting prey. They were completely surrounded, and by the looks of it, this was a bigger group than the two that had already attacked combined. If RJ failed, there would be no way to defend themselves against so many, and no way to fight thru.
Melody and the other defending ponies held their ground, but did not charge. This seemed to spur the Changelings to act cocky, strutting around, just beyond attacking range, taunting as they waited for more to mass up behind them. Melody guessed they had thirty more seconds before they charged, and RJ need more than that. She readied herself to attack, knowing it would cost her life.
The Changelings started stepping forward, and Melody found she wasn't the only pony willing to fight. All around the circle, ponies stepped forward, fire in their eyes as they were willing to die kicking rather than cowering in the face of fear.
Taking a deep breath, Melody closed her eyes, remembering her happiest moment before all this started. Opening them, she shifted her weight and drew in breath to yell charge. This...would be their end...and end worth remembering.
“This displeases me GREATLY!” A voice thundered and something hit the ground, hard, shattering the earth in a complete circle around the group. As the dust cleared, two ponies stood firmly between the ponies and the approaching Horde One was a purple Pegasus with a crescent moon and star for a cutie mark and the other was—
“Princess Luna!” All the ponies gasped.
Luna gave them a reassuring smile and bowed her head, into an attack pose, snarling at the Changelings, “Have at thee navies!”
The black abominations were suddenly very unsure about themselves. Ponies were on thing. An Alicorn, however, was a completely different matter.
RJ lifted his head, opening his eyes which glowed electric blue, and all the ponies in the clearing, including Princess Luna and Moon Chaser, vanished in a flash of blue, leaving the stunned Changelings to gape at the missing ponies, not sure how or what to do.
Fifteen miles down the path, all ponies, nearly forty in total, tumbled to the stone floor old throne room of the ancient castle. E'ma, her red mane bobbing as she moved, galloped to them, checking them all in turn. All ponies were fine.
“RJ, that was incredible.” Gear Tech sigh, giving her stallion a kiss on the cheek where he lay. “RJ, you can rest later. Come on get up.” All the other ponies started getting to their hooves. “RJ, this isn't funny. Get up. RJ? RJ! RJ!!”
Gear Tech put her hooves on RJ's still shoulders and gave him a shake, but his head only lolled ot on side.
Princess Luna was there in a flash. “Let me see him child.” And she touched her horn to his, closing her eyes. “His heart gave out. It was too much stress.” She breathed.
“No...no...no, no, no.” Tears spilled down Gear Tech's tan fur face as her world started cashing down around her.
Princess Luna concentrated and her horn flickered with a spark.
RJ's eyes snapped open, breathing in a gasp of air.
“That should do it.” Luna sighed in relief.
Tech hugged him, letting go and crying into RJ's yellow chest as the tension of the Massacre of Ponyville, as it would come to be called, and the flight from Sweet Apple Acres and the scrimmages with the Changelings all broke with the death and revival of her loved one.
“Glad you all could make it.” Writer's voice echoed off the halls of the old castle. “Now, it's time.”
Luna looked up at the Aligon and nodded. “It is, isn't it?”
All the ponies watched as both Aligon and Alicorn met at the head of the stairs leading up to the twin thrones. They looked at the thrones, and with magic threw them aside, turning with very determined faces.
“It is TIME!” They both yelled in unison. As if they read each others minds they spoke together. “Queen Dark Sun will destroy Equestria if we let her! It is time to rise up! It is time to rebuild, find Princess Celestia, push the Changelings out and take Equestria back!”
All the ponies roared, all ready to do their part.
In another castle, far away, the black and yellowed splotched Dark Sun sat on her twin thrown while her husband, King Discord, sipped Sweet Apple Cider from a champagne glass. The Dark Queen shivered.
“Something the matter dear?” Discord asked, looking and sounding concerned.
“Nothing.” Dark Sun replied, looking out the window, over the twilight realm that was now hers, to a ruin that for some odd reason gave her the chills. “I'm sure it's just something I forgot to deal with.”