Cataclysm: They've Returned

by LoveAndTolerateEveryPony

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Sad, Tragedy
Length: 4275

When the mane six split up one for different reasons, the end of equestria hit hard. Will they be able to find each other and save all of pony kind?

The girls had so many plans. Pinkie was off to plan a party for the pony diva Sapphire Shores, Rainbow Dash was off to compete in a race with Applejack cheering her on, Rarity was off to Canterlot to deliver a wedding dress, and Fluttershy was off to visit animals with Spike leaving Twilight all the time she could get to study all she wanted. Then horror hit. Now the fate of pony kind hung in the balance. Will the girls be able to reunite and save not only Equestria, but one of their friends?

NOTE: This is a half planned, half winging type of story, so enjoy the ride with me :D. I made the cover myself on photoshop.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-04-19 11:15:13 UTC

PROLOGUE: They've returned

It was a beautiful sunny day in Equestria. Twilight was sitting at the train station with her friends as they awaited their trains. “Are ya sure ya don’t wanna come along with one of us Twi?.” Applejack wondered.

“You’re more than welcome to come along with me Darling, I’m sure Celestia would love your help in planning her sister’s wedding.” Rarity chimed.

“Yeah you must be so excited to meet Princess Luna’s special somepony” Fluttershy smiled.

“I am and I will meet him when we all arrive at the castle on Sunday,” Twilight announced as a familiar colorful train pulled up. An earth pony jumped out and blew his whistle.

“All ponies heading for Las Pegasus and Canterlot all aboard!”. The pony blew his whistle and jumped back onto the train.

“That’s us,” Rainbow Dash said fluttering above her friends.

“I do hope Luna likes the wedding dress I made for her. It took me weeks to sew.” Rarity said floating a bright blue dress bag in the air with her magic.

“I know she will Rarity,” Twilight hugged her with one hoof, “Just like I know Rainbow Dash will blow away the other fliers in the golden wings race.”

“I have no doubts!” Rainbow Dash proudly claimed.

“Thank ya again for castin your walkin on clouds spell Twi, so I can cheer her on.” Applejack hugged Twilight as she, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash boarded the train. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy waved as the train pulled off.

“HE’S HERE!” Pinkie called bouncing high in the air and pointing her hooves. Twilight looked and coming up the road was Cheese Sandwich. Twilight knew who it was by the sombrero on his head and the rubber chicken on his back. “Hello Pinkie Pie” he greeted as they hugged.

“I bet you two are super excited to be planning the biggest birthday party of the year” Fluttershy stated.

“Of course we are!” Pinkie hopped up, “after all it is for none other than Sapphire Shores!. I knew I couldn't possible plan the party alone, so I called in the help of my special somepony!”.

“I’m sure Sapphire Shores will love it Pinkie. Rainbow’s party was a blast”. Twilight said as another trained stopped with a loud gasp in front of them.

“What I don't understand though is if Sapphire Shores lives in Canterlot then why is she having the party in manehatten?” Fluttershy Pondered.

“That’s where her family is from. She was born in Manehatten” Twilight informed.

“Now where are our mini planners?” Pinkie asked looking around for the three fillies she and her friends always watched.

“We’re comin!” Applebloom called as she and her two best friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo galloped up to Pinkie.

“Are you guys ready to attend the best party ever?!” Pinkie shouted in excitement. The three fillies cheered back. Pinkie hugged her friends and she, Cheese Sandwich, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders boarded the train and waved as it pulled off. Spike was pacing impatiently. “Where’s our train already?!” he shouted.

“Calm down Spike I’m sure the train to Foal Mountain will be here soon,” Twilight said trying to calm him down.

“He’s just eager to get there and see the gem paths that line the forest. The rarest gems seem to appear there and I promised him he’d get to gather some as snacks while I visit the animal center there” Fluttershy explained.

“So many snacks” Spike drooled and twilight and Fluttershy giggled. A few minutes later a small red colored train pulled up.

“That’s our train,” Fluttershy said as Angel hopped on her back.

“Bye, Twilight!” Spike ran onto the train as Fluttershy followed. Twilight waved and the ponies pulling the train galloped off full speed. Twilight trotted home. She knew since her friends were all off in other places she had until Sunday to study all she wanted. She noticed as she trotted along that the sky was getting dark. She didn’t see any pegasi in the sky setting the clouds up. She could also see they were blacker than usual and seemed to have a green fade to them at the bottom. When she heard thunder she trotted faster and got home before the downpour started.

Rarity smiled wide as the train pulled into Canterlot. As she stepped out she was greeted by two of Celestia’s guards. “Miss Rarity the princesses have been expecting you,” one of them said and they headed toward the castle. Rarity swore the castle looked even more beautiful every time she saw it. “Hello Rarity, it's so nice to see you again” Celestia greeted with her warming smile.

“It is a pleasure as always to see you Princess Celestia” Rarity bowed.

“Luna has been waiting to see the dress, come along. She is the castle dressing room” Celestia smiled as she lead the way. Rarity followed Celestia into a room painted in pastel blue and white. With curtains the shade of midnight. It was a beautiful room. In it sat white sofas and a big mirror with Luna and Celestia’s cutie marks at the top. “Sister, Rarity has arrived with your dress” Celestia announced.

Luna walked in with a mare servant behind her. “Hello sister, thou’s help is having no luck finding a mane style for thou’s big day” Luna complained.

“I think I might be able to help Princess Luna, I can try after you see your dress” Rarity offered.

“Thou wouldst be most thankful Rarity” Luna smiled. Rarity helped Luna into her dress. It was a beautiful one. It was midnight blue with star golden lace trimmed around it. The saddle of the dress had golden jewels shining on it that were in the pattern of a big star. Her veil was sheer white with a midnight blue band with a golden star on it. Her shoes followed the same design. Luna looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. “We are very pleased with thy’s work Rarity.”

“I am so glad and honored I could help Princess,” Rarity said sincerely.

“Let's get your dress put up before dinner little sister. Star Hunter has planned to join us this evening” Celestia informed.

Outside the castle, the guards were switching shifts. Star Hunter was happy. Not only did his first month as a guard go well, he would be joining his future wife for dinner tonight. “You did well with the sky search today Star Hunter,” Shining Armor said walking up to him.

“Thanks, Sire” Star Hunter bowed.

“No need to be so formal Star, you’ll be a prince soon” Shining reminded him.

“Right, I keep forgetting the whole prince thing. I just look at it as me marrying the most amazing mare I’ve ever met.”

“It is nice to see a pony not so intimidated by Princess Luna. It can be annoying to see some ponies still see her as Nightmare Moon.” Shining said.

“Nightmare Moon wasn’t Luna. She was a monster created by jealousy from a young mare’s mind. If ponies knew Luna like I do, they’d have no fear for her at all.” Star Hunter prided. Just then, Cloudchaser flew down to them.

“Hey Star, Princess Celestia informed me she wants me to move these really dark clouds. Wanna help?”

“Sure” he agreed and nodded to Shining as he flew up to the clouds with her.

“Let's tackle the really big one. Maybe it’ll break apart the smaller ones” Cloudchaser suggested. Star Hunter nodded. She flew to one end and Star Hunter flew to the other. He pulled as she pushed, but that cloud refused to budge. Star Hunter flew to her side and helped push thinking if they both put their strength on one side it would move, but still the cloud floated in place.

“Well Chaser, let's try bucking it. Maybe if we both kick super hard it’ll move” Star Hunter suggested. cloudchaser shook her head in agreement as they both turned around. They both reared back their hind legs and kicked the cloud full force. When their legs connected with the cloud super bright green lightning erupted from it blinding them and flinging them to the ground. as their sight slowly came back they could hear screaming. Star Hunter shook the cloudiness from his head and his eyes widened in shock. CHANGELINGS! They were everywhere, but something was different about them. The buzzing sound they usually made wasn’t as loud. In fact, hardly any of them were in the air. They were slower than he remembered from their last attack. The biggest difference was their eyes. Instead of the blue color orbs they usually had they were now red and glowing. He watched in shock as changelings started to attack the ponies around. Not by draining their love and emotions, but by actually taking bites out of them. Before he knew it he and Cloudchaser were cornered by three of the savage bug like pony creatures. He could see Cloudchaser starting to panic. Using all the bravery he could conjure he reared his left wing back and knocked them as far as he could and he and Cloudchaser took off running. Star Hunter looked up and saw that the majority of the changelings were piling into the castle.

“Cloudchaser go see if you can help the other pegasi close the gates! I have to help the princesses!” She nodded and flew off as he galloped as fast as he could dodging the buggers when they tried to nip at him. He glided into the castle in search of his bride and her sister. He was almost to the dining hall when he heard the most awful scream. The sound of despair is his bride’s voice sent panic through him and he headed toward the sound. He burst into the dressing room and couldn't believe what his eyes saw. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were held in the air slowly being swallowed by a green orb of magic. Luna caught sight of Star Hunter.

“Star Hunter!” she reached out a hoof as a strong wind took over the room. Fighting throw it he reached for her hoof, but before they touched the bright green glow overtook the room and in a flash the royal sisters were gone.

CHAPTER ONE: Two Years Later

Rainbow Dash looked out over what was saved of Las Pegasus after the infectious changelings hit. She still remembered their minor attack on Las Pegasus. She and Applejack had just arrived and were checking into the local inn when a bright green flash happened and then the changelings savagely attacked ponies. The horrid part wasn’t actually the attack, it was watching what happened to ponies that didn’t die or more like stay dead. They would come back soon after as what she could only describe as zombie ponies. Luckily they were in one of the cloud cities of Equestria and it was rare to see a flying danger unless it was a newly turned zombie pegasus. “Rainbow Dash” she heard Spitfire call, “It’s time to head out, the wagon is ready”. She nodded and headed for the cloud chariot where Applejack was making sure they had enough supplies to make it to Ponyville and back. Rainbow Dash was still amazed that Twilight’s cloud walking spell was still casted since magic seemed to come in spurts around Equestria since the princesses vanished.

“Who’s a comin?” Applejack asked.

“We’re waiting for one more,” Soarin said as he and Spitfire harnessed the wagon on their backs. A brown pony flew up to them. His mane was a mix of light and dark blond and he was wearing a red and tan hat. His cutie mark was a backward bit sign.

“Howdy Big Shot” AJ greeted and he nodded. Big Shot was once a paparazzi, known for catching rare sights.

“Ok, Dash and Shot when we take flight use as much strength as you need to hold the carriage from the back until we land” Spitfire ordered and they nodded. She and soarin took off into the air and Dash and Big Shot soon followed holding the carriage. When they landed Dash and Big Shot sat down in the carriage with Applejack. Dash rested her head back and closed her eyes.

“Rainbow Dash!” she heard somepony call her name. She groggily opened her eyes. She was shocked to find herself in the throne room of Twilight’s castle. She looked up and her heart fluttered in her chest. There stood Twilight.

“How did I get here?” Rainbow Dash pondered. Twilight just smiled and walked out of the castle. Rainbow panicked as she remembered the dangers outside and ran after Twilight. She burst through the castle doors. “Twilight wait.,” she realized then she wasn’t in Ponyville but, in the middle of the everfree forest path. She froze in place when she seen a line of zombie ponies just standing there. Their dead red eyes staring at her. Just up the path she saw a shadowy figure. She started galloping toward it as fast as her hooves would allow her.

“TWILIGHT!”. Just as she reached the end a changeling tackled her and she shot up and looked around.

“Ya, ok Dash?” Applejack asked concerned.

“Uh...yeah I’m fine. Bad dream” Dash said sighing in relief and sadness. A little while later they arrived in Ponyville and hid the wagon under a willow tree.

“Remember to keep your weapons at the ready at all times and stay silent. Me and Soarin well hit the big buildings for supplies and survivors if any. Rainbow Dash you take the rest of the town. Applejack you look around the markets. Big Shot well keep an eye out overhead”. Spitfire ordered and everypony nodded. Rainbow wandered around being as quiet as she could searching different places and listening for any sound. She was snooping through some carriages that had been left behind when the town was attacked when she looked up and spotted Twilight’s castle. Her dream filled her mind as she trotted toward it. She stood and stared at the faded yellow and pink doors. Part of her hoped if she knocked Twilight would be there when they opened, but she knew it wouldn’t happen. She flew up to the balcony and headed down to the thrones. As she stood on the white star in the middle of the floor and looked at the thrones now covered in dust so many memories went through her mind including how they defeated Tirek. That’s when she noticed two books in front of Twilight’s throne. She picked one up and blew the dust off it. It was their diary. She knew it from the horseshoe with their cutie marks on it on the cover.  She dusted off the other book and it was the book she had always seen Twilight reading. The old brown book with the golden alicorn on the cover. Dash remembered all the times she saw Twilight with the book and would tease her for being an egghead. She hugged the books as she teared up. She had been sitting in the castle for a while when she heard a scream that sounded like Spitfire. She put the books in her saddlebag and dashed out the doors just as Applejack ran by. As she caught up to her they saw Soarin flying down to the ground with Spitfire in his hooves. “What happened?” Dash asked landing beside them. She saw Spitfire was bleeding heavily from her right side.

“Flyer sunk his teeth right into her” Soarin said as he gently held her.

“I’m not” Spitfire winced, “gonna make it.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Soarin said tearing up.

“You have….to take the lead Soarin” she took a shallow breath, “please don’t let me turn”.

“I...I can’t do it” Soarin closed his eyes as he hugged her close. Dash placed a hoof on his back.

“I’ll do it” she offered.

“Are ya sure Dash?” Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash could hear the concern in her tone, but she nodded. Applejack patted Soarin’s back and lead him to the carriage along with Big Shot. Rainbow got her bow and an arrow from her saddlebag and aimed the arrow at Spitfire’s head as she pulled it back. She mouthed “I’m sorry” and let the arrow fling.

CHAPTER TWO: Letters & Memories

Fluttershy and Spike were hunkered down inside a hollow tree. They had fled into the everfree forest when foal mountain was attacked. Even though it had been two years since Equestria was sent into chaos not even her missing friend Discord could summon they were still living in the forest. “Come on Fluttershy, we have to gather more supplies” Spike told her.

“Oh I don’t no Spike, we have plenty for tonight” She argued not looking up from the dying fire they had.

“It’s only a little passed moon rise, and it’s cold tonight, we need more plus we have to find something to eat” he told her.

“I don’t know Spike” she looked out into the forest, “It’s so dark out there”.

“Come on Fluttershy, we won’t take too long” he nudged her.

“O-Ok” she stuttered as she slowly trotted outside. Spike helped hitch the wagon they managed to escape with to her back and they started looking for wood. Fluttershy timidly glanced around. Since the downfall of the world she knew, everything seemed so much darker. Especially the forest. “Spike are you sure we need to be out here, we have enough twigs for a fire” he could hear fear in her soft voice.

“We have three twigs, the fire will die out within a few hours,” Spike told her.

“Fine” she barely whispered as Spike picked up a few twigs in front of a tree. Fluttershy was picking some safe blue colored berries from a bush when she thought she heard something. She thought is sounded like muffled chewing. “Is somepony there?” she softly called. She saw the bushes a few feet from her move. Then she heard it. The growling. “Spike get in the wagon!” she yelled as she galloped faster than she ever had as a freshly turned earth pony zombie jumped out from the bushes giving chase. Spike jumped in the wagon and took a huge breath and blew green fire at the zombie. It didn’t reach. He tried over and over again as Fluttershy galloped. She was going so fast that she didn't see the rock that tripped her. The wagon flipped over with her and Spike hanging on as it dragged them over the edge of a cliff in the forest. As Fluttershy plummeted she hit her head on a rock which knocked her out cold. As they landed the wagon flipped over on top of Spike and Fluttershy. As much as he tried Spike couldn’t lift it up. Soon he could hear the zombie pony banging on the wagon and growling. Spike trembled and hugged Fluttershy. There was a thud outside the wagon and the banging stopped. “What was it after?” he heard a stallion ask.

“It was banging on this broken wagon,” another stallion said.

“If it was banging on it then that means something living must be hiding there” a third stallion stated.

“Should we check?” the first stallion asked.

“Yes, it could be a pony it was after and we’ve been sworn to help no matter what,” the third stallion said. Spike watched as a green magical mist hugged the wagon lifting it up. Spike was met with three Canterlot guards. He sighed in relief.

“Please help us!” he pointed to Fluttershy, “she’s hurt!”. The guards took a closer look at the yellow pegasus on the ground. She was bleeding from her head.

“Let’s get them to the castle fast!” the unicorn guard said grabbing Spike and Fluttershy in his magic as they dashed back to a chariot.

                                          ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rarity sat in the office that once belonged to the Princess of the sun herself, Celestia. It felt to Rarity like home. Or as close to home as she was gonna get. Rarity had spent the first few days exploring the office for anything she could find to lose herself in. She trotted over to a bookshelf across the room and took out a golden bound book. She sat at Celestia’s desk and opened it. Each page was a letter Twilight had written to Celestia of lessons in friendship. Looking through them brought back so many good memories. She had read the book so many times since she found it shortly after claiming the office as her own room. Some ponies thought it was bad of her, but she didn’t care. She somehow felt closer to the princesses, to Twilight taking the office. She turned to the first page of the book of letters. It was actually a letter Twilight wrote to Celestia shortly after they defeated Nightmare Moon freeing Luna of her envy created dark side.

Dear princess Celestia,

I wanted to thank you so much for letting me stay here in Ponyville. For letting me make the Golden Oaks Library my home and for leading me to not one but, five amazing best friends. I use to think I didn’t need friends, but after what happened recently, I see that I was wrong.

Your faithful Student,

Twilight Sparkle.

Rarity recalled the day they had saved Luna, and she recalled the sadness she felt when she thought Twilight would have to leave. A knock on the door brought Rarity out of her thoughts. “Come in” she called. A guard pony walked in.

“Rarity, somepony has requested a meeting with the pony who took over the routines around here and since Star Hunter is out searching for food and survivors, we’ve brought him to you” the guard said.

“Please bring him in,” she said standing up and trotting out in front of the desk as the guard waved the guest in.

“It’s about time,” Spike said as he walked in. Rarity’s eyes went wide. “Spike?!”.

“Rarity!” the little dragon called running up to her and they hugged, “I didn’t think we’d see any of our old friends again!”.

“We?” Rarity asked, “are you with...Twilight?”. A look of sadness crossed his face.

“No” he sighed, “Fluttershy, and she’s hurt”. Rarity magically floated Spike onto her back and galloped to the medical wing of the castle. She trotted in looking for the doctor. She spotted him by a bed writing something down on a chart. She dashed to him and could see the pony on the bed was Fluttershy.

“Doctor, is she ok?” Rarity asked going to Fluttershy’s bedside.

“She’s suffered a concussion, she could be out for a while” Dr. Hooves informed, “I’ve stitched up the cut on her head though”.

“If anything changes please let me know Doctor” Rarity said. He nodded and trotted off to check on a few other patients in the room. She and Spike set there by Fluttershy’s bed and Spike told her everything that happened and she was sure to help him understand what had happened wasn’t his fault. Soon Spike fell asleep leaning against Rarity. She took him to Celestia’s office and tucked him in on the sofa against the wall then she snuck off to Luna’s room. There was something she finally wanted to check out. She went to the princesses closet and magically floated out a few small boxes. She opened one that said journal crystals box one on it. She floated out a sapphire crystal. Inside the crystal was a glowing yellow number one. Rarity could tell that these crystals were made with the same magic spell she used on the crystals when she and the girls made Twilight’s tree root chandelier. Only it was more advanced. She touched her horn to the crystal and suddenly her eyes glowed midnight blue as she was lost in the memory that was noted down by Luna. She was looking at the castle garden. Beautiful stars and a bright moon shone down on the garden. Luna was sitting at the end of the garden with Celestia. “You’ve made the night sky lovely as ever little sister,” Celestia said.

“Thank sister. I spent a lot of time adding the glow to the moon” Luna stated looking up.

“Hard work that has surely paid off,” Celestia said, “I must retire for the evening”

“Rest well big sister,” Luna said as Celestia nodded and trotted inside the castle. Luna was alone in the garden just looking up at the sky. Every now and then creating a shooting star over different parts of the sky over Equestria.

“Good evening Princess Luna” she heard a stallion say. She looked behind her to see one of the night guard trainees smiling at her.

“Good evening, Sir Star Hunter” she greeted in return.

“If it’s not too forward your Majesty, I must say this night is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen”. he looked away blushing a bit.

“Would thou like to sit with me for a bit?” Luna wasn’t sure why she asked, but she couldn’t help herself.

“Sure” he smiled and sit down next to her, “It’s my pleasure princess”. They both looked up at the sky as one of Luna’s brightest shooting stars shot across it. “A lot pretty shooting stars in the sky tonight,” Star Hunter said watching in awe.

“Yes, I have heard ponies tend to make wishes on them,” she said, “would thou like me to conjure one for you to wish upon?” she asked. Star Hunter smiled as he removed his helmet.

“Right now princess, things are so perfect I don’t need a wish”.