Ruby Wing: Dawn of a Diety

Chapters

Eleven Years Later
Coronation
All Is Revealed
Time for Air
Metal Blade's Explanation
Deadly Autumn Winds
The Last Leaves of Autumn
Focus, Ruby
Discharged
Sharp Minds
No Time To Scream
A Foal Abandoned, A Foal Found

Eleven Years Later

"Mom! Can I go now?" Asked a red filly as she ran towards her mother.

"Settle down, Ruby!" Twilight giggled as she looked at her daughter. "Did you put all the books away like I asked you to?"

"Yes!" Ruby Wing replied, a smile on her face.

"Okay then. You may go now." Twilight responded.

"Yes!" Ruby cheered, jumping into the air as she did so. "Bye, mom!"

"Bye, Ruby!" Twilight called as she watched Ruby run out of the castle. She's really grown up... She thought sadly.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Hi, Autumn!" Ruby called as she found her friend.

"Hi, Ruby!" Autumn Breeze replied.

She was Ruby's size with an orange mane and lime green fur, save for the Orange stripe that ran down her back. Her cutie mark was a maple leaf.

"Or should I say 'Princess Ruby'?" Autumn joked.

"I'm not a princess!" Ruby said, stamping her hoof in frustration. "The coronation isn't for another week!"

"Still, you're lucky!" Autumn Breeze said, a smile on her face. "In another week you get to rule Ponyville alongside your mom!"

"True..." Ruby said. A frown creeping onto her face. "But it doesn't seem like something I want to do."

"Oh, Celestia! It's them!" A pompous voice called out to them. "Catch me please! I might faint..."

"Oh great..." Autumn Breeze hissed as she and Ruby turned their heads to look at the golden colt with five mares flanking him.

"What do you want, Goldcoat?" Ruby asked, trying to keep her voice under control.

"Oh, nothing," Goaldcoat sneered,"except to tell you both how sorry I feel for you."

Autumn Breeze and Ruby looked nervously at each other.

"Sorry?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, sorry!" Goldcoat spat. "Sorry that you, Ruby Wing don't even have wings! Or a horn at the very least! You're just a lowly Earth Pony!"

"What's wrong with being an Earth Pony?!" Ruby shot back. "Just because you have a horn doesn't make you any better than me!"

"As for your changeling friend-!" Goldcoat began but Ruby interrupted.

"SHE'S NOT A CHANGELING!!!" Ruby roared at the top of her voice.

Autumn Breeze looked at her friend in shock. Did... Did her eyes just glow red? She was hoping it was just a trick of the light, but a part of her said it wasn't.

"JUST BECAUSE SHE HAS A STRIPE THAT GOES DOWN HER BACK DOESNT MEAN SHES A CHANGELING!!!"

"Oh really?" Goldcoat said, a smirk crossing his face. "I'll prove it to you."

With that he charged up his horn and fired a spell at Autumn Breeze.

"Ergh!" Autumn Breeze cried out at the spell struck her in the chest.

"YOU BUCKING MORON!!!" Ruby shrieked, an expression of pure hatred on her face. "THAT WAS A STUN SPELL!!!"

"How dare you accuse me of such an act!" Goldcoat said, faking an act of horror. "It appears you want one for yourself then." His expression turning into an evil smirk. As he fired a spell at her.

Knowing what was coming Ruby easily side stepped the spell, smirking as she did so.

"Rrgh..." Goldcoat said as he fired another spell at her.

Ruby narrowly avoided his other spell, but got hit in the head with his third.

"Ow!" She exclaimed as she clutched her head.

"Ha!" Goldcoat triumphantly yelled. "You see? This is why you Earth Ponies don't go up against a unicorn!"

"Why you..." Ruby hissed as she looked at him.

She started to advance on him, but a hoof landed on her shoulder.

"Ruby..." Autumn Breeze soothed as she looked at her friend. "Just leave it. You don't want to cause a riot."

"... Fine." Ruby sighed. "Lets get out of here."

"Thats right! Run!" Goldcoat jeered as the two friends walked away. "Just look at them!"

"Someday..." Ruby swore through gritted teeth. "I'm going to break his horn and shove it right up his-."

"Don't think like that, Ruby." Autumn Breeze interrupted. "Think about this. You managed to avoid two of his spells! You're the fastest Earth Pony I know! I don't know of anypony else besides Rainbow Dash who can dodge spells, and she's a Pegasus!"

"Applejack can." Ruby said with a smile.

"True, but you're only eleven!" Autumn Breeze reminded her. "I doubt Applejack was that fast as eleven!"

Ruby's smile widened. "Thanks, Autumn." She said softly. "I needed that."

"So!" Autumn Breeze happily yelled, "What do you want to do now?"

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"So, Twilight... What did you want to talk about?" Rainbow asked Twilight as she sat down in a chair in Twilight's Castle.

"It's about Ruby." Twilight said as she sat down opposite Rainbow.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow, "What about her?" She asked.

"It's... Just..." Twilight said as she struggled to find the right words. "She's been acting a bit strange ever since I told her about her coronation."

"Yes she has." Rainbow said. "I think I know why."

"Really? Why?" Twilight inquired.

"Think about it, Twilight." Rainbow said as she rolled her eyes. "You look forward to leading a normal life, then your mom tells you that youre gonna be a princess and that you'll be ruling along side her. Do you remember the Tierek incident?"

Once Rainbow mentioned the Tierek incident Twilight shuddered. It had been during the battle with Lork Tierek that the Golden Oaks Library had burned to the ground.

"Do you remember when Celestia opened the door to the throne room?" Rainbow continued. "When I saw all seven chairs with our cutie marks on them I grew nervous. Sure I might have not shown it at the time, but I was nervous. The thought of ruling along side my friends seemed like a big responsibility even if I wasn't the princess. So I think we both know why Ruby is acting like she is... She's nervous, Twilight."

"... I... Never even thought of that..." Twilight remarked. "Thanks Rainbow."

"Heh, no problem!" Rainbow said, flashing a cocky grin.

"But still... I worry about her." Twilight admitted.

"So do I, Twilight..." Rainbow soothed, getting up and hugging her friend. "So do I."

Author's Note

Hello everypony! I give you another chapter of the Ruby Wing series! :twilightsmile: Yes I know this chapter wasn't a good one, but the next chapter will be better, and will be released in... ~~*checks watch* about thirty minutes.~~ Its out. I thank you all for reading and have a great day! ^_^

Coronation

"Ruby!" Twilight called from outside her daughters room. "Time to get up! It's the day of your coronation!"

"Okay, mom..." Ruby mumbled into her pillow. "Just five more minutes."

"Ruby!" Twilight said, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Get up!"

"Do I have to?" Ruby said, rolling over.

"Ruby Wing Sparkle!" Twilight yelled at the top of her voice. "Get out here this minute!"

"Whoa!" Ruby exclaimed as she fell out of bed. "I'm up! I'm up!"

She galloped to her dresser and took out her mane brush. Today's the day... She thought as she furiously brushed her hair.

Once she had finished brushing her hair and styling it to her will she rushed out of her room only to collide with her mother.

"Oof!" Twilight exclaimed as she was headbutted by her daughter.

"Slow down, Ruby." Twilight giggled.

"Oops... Sorry, mom." Ruby apologized.

"So..." Ruby let out a sigh. "What's the plan for today?"

"Well, first off..." Twilight said as she got out her checklist. "Get you out of bed... Check!"

Of course she would put that on there. Ruby thought as she rolled her eyes.

"Next item of buisness... Go over the checklist!"

"Of course..." Ruby said flatly.

"So, Ruby." Twilight began, disregarding her daughters jibe. "After I finish explaining the day to you we will head over to Carousel Boutique and pick up the dress that Rarity made for you. After that we will oversee the preperations for your coronation. Once Princess Cadence, Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, and Prince Shining Armour arrive the coronation will begin. Princess Luna will then cast the ascension spell on you and you will be transformed into an alicorn. Any questions?"

"Yeah, one." Ruby replied. "Why will Princess Luna cast the spell and not Princess Celestia?"

"It has been a tradition amongst royalty that when one ascends it is done by the second eldest alicorn if the ascension is entitled to one by birth." Twilight explained. "If the coronation is performed because one was adopted into the royal family then the third eldest alicorn will perform the spell." Thank Celestia she managed to pull some strings. Twilight thought. Otherwise Cadence would preform the spell and with this information Ruby would know something was up. "But if one earned their ascension, much like myself then the eldest alicorn would preform the spell."

"I guess that makes sense..." Ruby said.

"So shall we head to the boutique?" Twilight offered.

"Sure." Ruby replied.

...

"Welcome to Carousel Boutique!"

"Hello, Rarity."

"Oh, Twilight! You're here for the dress I presume?" Rarity inquired.

"Yes." Twilight replied.

"Here's the dress!" Rarity said as she pulled it into view.

Twilight gasped at the site. It was a red dress with silver lining around the edges of the dress. On the sides of the dress were silver designs with a ruby in the middle of each design. The shoes were made out of silver with a small ruby on the front of each shoe.

"I tried to make it a moderately simple dress." Rarity stated. "I swear Ruby is worse than Rainbow Dash about dresses. You let her spend to much time around her."

"That may be, Rarity." Twilight giggled, "But you know Ruby. She may be an Earth Pony, but she has the heart of a Pegasus."

"Speaking of Ruby..." Rarity said as she looked around. "Where is she? I thought you said that she would be coming with you to pick up the dress."

"I did, but she went to oversee the coronation preparations."

"And you didn't stop her?" Rarity raised an eyebrow.

"I tried." Twilight answered. "But you try arguing with her when Pinkie is backing her up."

"Ah." Rarity replied. "Oh, and about your gala dress..." She pulled out Twilights gala dress. "I made a few improvements to it.

Twilight's dress was now lavender in the front but faded into midnight blue as it ran back. Amethyst decorated various parts of it, and Rarity had added shoes to the outfit. They were cobalt shoes with a small piece of amethyst at the from of each shoe.

"Rarity..." Twilight said as she stared in awe. "It's wonderful."

"Oh please dear, it was nothing." Rarity said. "So I take it we should take these dresses to the castle?"

"Yes." Twilight said as they left the boutique.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Luna," a white furred alicorn called out to her sister. "are you ready for this?"

"I don't know if I am, Tia." Luna replied. "I mean... This will be the first time I will preform this spell."

"Don't worry, Luna." Princess Celestia soothed. "I know you can do it."

"Thank you, sister." Luna responded, a small smile creeping into her face. "That helped."

"So, Luna." Celestia said, switching back to her royal self. "Shall we head down to Ponyville?"

"Yes." Luna grinned. "We must make haste, for I fear Shining Armour and Cadence will have arrived by the time we get there."

"I agree." Celestia giggled. "I believe the chariot is ready.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Look!" Ruby shouted as she pointed into the sky with her hoof. "It's Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armour!"

"Oh, wow! You're right!" Pinkie exclaimed.

As the chariot landed all ponies bowed as low as they could.

"Rise, Ruby." Cadence said smiling as she did so. "This is your coronation day, you don't need to bow to royalty today."

"Nor any day after this one!" Shining Armour chimed in from behind the chariot.

"Well it looks like Cadence and Shining Armour got here before us."

"I agree, Tia."

Turning to the source of the noise Ruby's eyes fell upon Celestia and Luna standing side by side.

Before Ruby could so as much as gasp Celestia spoke.

"So Ruby, are you ready?"

"Huh? Oh! Yes, princess!" Ruby said awkwardly.

"Very well..." Luna spoke in place of her sister. "Shall we head to Twilight's castle then?"

...

"Okay, Ruby... Are you ready?" Twilight asked.

"Yes." Ruby said, trying to sound determined.

"Okay... It's time. Luna is waiting outside." Celestia spoke up.

Ruby merely nodded as she listened to the speaker.

"Introducing the new princess... Princess Ruby Wing Sparkle!"

That's my cue. Ruby thought as she exited Twilight's castle.

The view was breath taking. All of Ponyville was there watching from below the steps. There were royal guards stationed everywhere, and there to her left, smiling warmly was Princess Luna.

As the other three princesses and Shining Armour filed off to the right Ruby turned to face Luna.

"We gather here today to celebrate the coronation of Princess Ruby Wing Sparkle!" Luna said as she turned to face the crowd of ponies.

"Ruby Wing," Luna spoke as she turned to face her niece. "Do you swear to serve Equestria as a princess and if necessary take on your mothers role if she passes on?"

"I do." Ruby spoke in a clam, determined fashion.

"Then by the power vested in me I declare you, Princess Ruby Wing Sparkle!"Luna said as she rested her horn on Ruby's head.

A blinding white light enveloped Ruby and lifted her off her hooves. As she felt the Alicorn Magic run through her she couldn't shake the feeling that something was... Off. She felt the Alicorn Magic in all parts of her, but shouldn't she feel her wings by now?

As she was set back down and the glow subsided all ponies could see her clearly. Ruby heard a gasp from the audience and from the other alicorns.

"What happened, Luna?" Celestia spoke up.

Turning around Ruby noticed the expressions of the princesses and Shining Armour. Celestia had an angry expression on her face the other ponies wore one of complete disbelief.

"I don't know!" Luna said, fear etched in her voice. "I cast the spell like you told me to!

"Then pray tell me why Ruby is still an Earth Pony!"

Author's Note

Here's the third chapter! I hope you enjoyed! :twilightsmile: I won't be forking out spoilers though so don't ask.

All Is Revealed

"Lord Argon!"

"Yes?"

"I have just received word from one of our spies! She thinks she has found the Crystal Deity!"

"Hmmmm... Good. Contact Chrysallis at once! And prepare the Southern Army!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Finally... After all these years of searching... I shall finally become a god!"

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Then pray tell me why she is still an Earth Pony!" Celestia roared at her sister.

Wait... What? Ruby asked herself as she felt where her horn should be.

No horn... She thought as she touched her head. Turning around she looked at her back. And no wings...

"How... Can this be?" Ruby inquired as she looked at Luna.

"No matter..." Celestia growled as she strode between Ruby and Luna.

"I will do this myself." She declared as she laid her horn upon Ruby.

Once again Ruby felt the magic lift her off the ground as it attempted to enter her. Only this time she felt her body reject all the magic Celestia was trying to put into her.

"Everypony look out!" Ruby screamed as her body rejected the final bit of magic, yet her warning was to late. The magical energy exploded out of Ruby, hitting everypony in the audience, all the guards, Prince Shining Armour and all the other princesses, knocking them all to the ground.

"Sorry..." Ruby muttered as she bowed her head in shame,

"It wasn't your fault, Ruby." Celestia said as she got up.

"I don't understand." Twilight said as she picked herself up off the ground. "Has she ascended?"

"I know of a spell that will tell us." Cadence piped up as she walked over to where Ruby stood and rested her horn against her.

After a few minutes, Cadence took her horn off Ruby with a surprised look on her face.

"She is an alicorn..." Cadence said staring at Ruby. "But something is denying her of her horn and wings."

"Hmmm..." Twilight said as she looked over at her daughter. A few moments later her eyes widened.

"I'm going to the library." She said as she rushed into her castle.

After a few seconds of staring at the door Luna turned to the audience.

"You can all go back to your homes now, there's nothing more to see." She called to the audience. However she stopped five ponies.

"Applejack! Pinkie Pie! Fluttershy! Rarity! Rainbow Dash! Come with us!"

The five mares walked up the steps with confused expressions.

"Yes, Princess?" Applejack asked. "Why do ya want us here?"

"As you may have noticed, Ruby still doesn't have her horn and wings." Luna replied. "I feel it would be wise to have the elements of harmony with us."

"I think Twilight went to do some research." Celestia interjected. "Let's go help her."

The other nine nodded as they opened the doors to Twilight's castle.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Where is it?" Twilight asked herself as she poured through the mountains of books in her library.

"I could swear I had it- Ah!" She cried in triumph as she found the book she was looking for.

"Scale Of Magic! Perfect!" She exclaimed as she opened to the first page.

Scale Of Magic:
Chapter one: Mana Level

The Mana Level is the Mana Force of one particular enchantment, pony, alchemical brew, ect. When one object or pony exerts a higher grade of mana then an enchantment, spell, or brew then the enchantment, spell, or brew can be negated, undone, reversed, or streangthened.

"Good... Good..." Twilight muttered to herself as she scanned the pages. "But where is- Ah!"

The Grade of Mana Force:

Deities
Nature
Alocorns
Other ponies
Other creatures

While this order cannot be broken there are a few exceptions. For instance an alicorn may turn another pony into an alicorn, however an alicorn cannot turn an Earth Pony into a Unicorn or visa verse.
See ascension: page 39

"Okay..." Twilight muttered as she flipped to page thirty nine.

Ascension:

While an alicorn can turn other ponies into alicorns there can be certain exceptions. If an alicorn attempts to ascend a vessel the vessel will remain as an Earth Pony even though the alicorn Magic will run through the vessel.
See vessel: page 67

"Earth Pony?!" Twilight shrieked as she turned to page sixty seven. "Could Ruby possibly be..."

Vessel:

A vessel is the soul of a deity in the body of a pony. The pony has to be an Earth Pony and if the pony were to be born a Unicorn or a Pegasus or to ascend to become an Alicorn the vessel will remain an Earth Pony. There is absolutely no way around this. Vessels generally pass unnoticed as they have no knowledge of what they really are, however if one were to ascend their physical appearance would remain as an Earth Pony. However their deity Magic would combine with the alicorn Magic, giving the vessels access to their full power. The fusion of magic is not an instantaneous process. Depending on the age of the vessel. If the vessel is still young the magic fusion may take a few hours at the very least. If the vessel is old the fusion could last for weeks. During this fusion period the vessel may expirence pain or nausea.

See symptoms list: page 116

"Mom?"

Twilight turned around. There standing in the doorway of the library was Ruby, Cadence, Shining Armour, Celestia, Luna, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash.

"Oh! Hi, Ruby!" Twilight said as she caught her daughters confused look.

"Hey, Ruby?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, mom?"

"Could you... Maybe... Go out into the hall for now?" Twilight begged.

"Why?" Ruby asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"Oh... Reasons." Twilight smiled sheepishly at Ruby as she said this. "Rainbow... Could you accompany her? Just so she isn't alone?"

"Uhhhh... Sure, Twilight." Rainbow said, feeling just as confused as Ruby probably felt.

"C'mon, Ruby." Rainbow said as she made for the door, stopping to look back at Ruby. "Let's go."

"Uhhhh... Okay, then." Ruby said as followed Rainbow out the door.

After the door closed and Rainbow's and Ruby's hoof steps faded, Twilight looked back to the other ponies in the room.

"Okay, everypony." Twilight said, taking a deep breath. "I think I know why the ascension spell supposedly didn't work on Ruby."

. . .

By the time Twilight had finished explaining to everypony what she had discovered their jaws were all having open in shock.

"So... What yer sayin' is..." Applejack began as she took a step forward. "That our Ruby's a vessel for some sort of god?"

"To put it bluntly... Yes." Twilight replied.

"An' tha's why she's still an Earth Pony?"

"No, Applejack." Twilight replied. "She may look like an Earth Pony, but she's an alicorn."

At that moment the doors busted open as Rainbow burst through the room.

"TWILIGHT!!!" Rainbow screamed, fear in her voice. "Ruby just collapsed!"

"What?!" Everypony else screamed as they looked at Rainbow.

"The symptoms... I suppose it's begun." Twilight muttered.

"What are you talking about, Twilight?" Rainbow asked, confused.

"We'll have to explain everything from the beginning." Twilight said hurriedly as she dashed to the book and picked it up.

"Come on. Let's go to Ruby." She said as she galloped off.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Where am I? Ruby asked as she woke up.

She appeared to be in a white void. However there was somepony else there with her, but they were to far away to look at clearly.

As Runy galloped closer to the figure she noticed that the other pony was walking closer to her.

"Hello?" Ruby called as she approached the other pony. "Who are y-?" She cut herself short as she took a good look at the other pony. "But... You're me!

Her doppelgänger giggled slightly.

"No, child. I am not you." It replied. "I am your soul."

"Oh really?" Ruby asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, yes." Her soul replied.

"Well then..." Ruby began, pointing at her soul. "If you are my soul than what the hay is up with your wings? And while we're on the subject why do you even have wings?!"

Her soul looked almost exactly like her. However her normally sky blue iris' were glowing red on her soul. Her soul also sported a pair of crystal wings, similar to those ones she might find on a Pegasus, yet unlike a pegasus' wings these crystal wings looked like three crystals originating from the same spot.

"I am as you will be." Came the reply.

"Wait... What?" Ruby inquired.

Instead of a reply, her soul simply spread her wings and flapped them in Ruby's direction, sending out a blast of red energy.

As the energy washed over Ruby she felt herself loosing conciousness. Before she fell back to sleep she heard her soul speak one final sentence.

"Awaken to your destiny... Ruby."

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ruby groggily opened her eyes as she woke up. Looking around she made out the blurry outline of her mother.

"Hi mom." Ruby said, shocked at how weak her voice sounded.

"Shhh... Don't talk, Ruby." Twilight said as she embraced her daughter. "You've been through a lot."

"But mom, I'm f-" Ruby was cut short as a wave of nausea gripped her. "Ugh!" She cried as she grabbed her head.

"Ruby!" Twilight yelled as her daughter began squirming in discomfort.

"Rrgh!" Ruby shouted as she slowly stopped squirming.

When Ruby opened her eyes once again Twilight let out a gasp.

Ruby's once sky blue iris' we're now glowing red.

"Mom?" Ruby asked, concerned.

"What is it?"

"N-nothing!" Twilight stuttered. "Let me get everypony else!" She said as she ran out of the room.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Shining Armour, Cadence, Celestia, Luna, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were all in the throne room, pouring over Scale of Magic. When they saw Twilight running over to them at full tilt they promptly stood up.

"Is she okay?" Rainbow asked with a concerned look in her eyes.

Twilight shook her head. "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Cadence inquired.

"I mean she had a bad wave of nausea and after that her iris' were glowing red. I don't know if those are just the symptoms or not."

To Twilight's surprise, everypony else looked relieved.

"Why are you all relieved?" Twilight asked sharply.

"It means that the magical fusion is going smoothly without any complications at all." Celestia responded as she stepped forward.

"Oh." Twilight said, simply.

"Y'know... Something's been bugging me..." Rainbow said, concern in her voice. "How does this pony know so much about all of this? They couldn't have possibly went to other vessels and asked them questions!"

"True, Rainbow." Twilight replied.

"Well... He might have been a vessel..." Fluttershy interjected. "If that helps."

"He might have been." Celestia said as she flipped to the very back of the book. "Let's check."

At the back of the book was a note.

To my beloved,

I'm sorry that I left. I wish I could have stayed to be with you and your sister.
And yes, I know you ask this now, but everything that I have stated here has happened to me.

Always yours,
Swirly

As they read this Celestia and Luna let out a gasp.

"Swirly? Who's that?" Pinkie inquired.

"Starswirl the Bearded." Celestia responded.

"What?!" Twilight shrieked at the top of her voice.

"We... That's is to say Luna and I... Were very close to Starswirl." Celestia replied.

"But Starswirl was a UNICORN!!!" Twilight screamed.

"Twilight..." Luna said as she shook her head. "You must remember that while Ruby's soul harbors a deity it is not the only deity. Starswirl's soul harbored a deity as well. The deity of Magic."

"But that would mean that Starswirl was born an Earth Pony." Twilight insisted.

"He was." Celestia said, her head hanging low. "But the day I ascended I took Starswirl somewhere private and cast the spell on him, too."

"You did WHAT?!" Everypony else cried out as they looked at Celestia in shock.

"I know... It was beyond stupid." Celestia mumbled. "But anyways once I had tried the spell didn't seem to work. The next day I went to see him and there he was. A Unicorn."

"That... Makes no sense." Twilight said as she shook her head.

"I know, Twilight." Celestia said as she walked over to Twilight. "But apparently there were reports of seeing Starswirl as an Earth Pony even after he was turned into a Unicorn. Which leads me to believe two things, one is that the deity of Magic allowed him to become a unicorn, and two is that deity Magic is like Unicorn magic. It's a little out of control at first. But after time it becomes easier to manage. So Ruby will need our help."

At the mention of Ruby, Twilight promptly facehoofed.

"Aargh!" Twilight yelled. "I just remembered that I promised Ruby that I would take you all to her."

"Then let's not waste time!" Luna said as she ran towards Ruby's room.

On the way there Twilight asked Celestia a question.

"Princess Celestia?" Twilight began.

"Yes?" Celestia replied.

"I'm just curious... Why did you tell the story about Starswirl?"

"Well, Twilight." Celestia said giggling. "I figured that you would want to know about deities. On top of that I thought it a good time for you to learn something about your favorite unicorn."

"Oh." Was all Twilight said.

As they got to the door to Ruby's room Twilight opened the door allowing everypony in.

"Mom?" Ruby asked, her voice shaking with fear.

Hearing a collective gasp from everypony else Twilight promptly rushed in.

"What is it, Ru-?" Twilight cut herself short and, like the others gasped at what she saw.

There was Ruby with a pair of wings that seemed to be crafted from rubies. Her face wore an expression of complete terror.

"What's happening to me?"

Author's Note

Aaaannnnnnddd.... It's out! Yay! :twilightsmile: I'm sorry if this chapter was awful. Which is why this story is going on hiatus until I get it organized. In any case I hope you all have a great day/night! And once again. Sorry if this chapter was dreadful.

Time for Air

Author's Note

Hello all! :twilightsmile: With great happiness I'm glad to say this story is coming off hiatus! And what better way to celebrate then by posting the cheesiest chapter of all time? :ajbemused: I hope you enjoy it anyways.

And yes, this once E rated story is now T rated for the use of language and potential gore.

Time for Air

"What's happening to me?"

Twilight stared in shock as she took in her daughters appearance. After a few seconds she sighed, and shook her head.

"I don't know how to explain this, Ruby." Twilight stated as she looked down at her hooves. "This is new for all of us."

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked as her voice shook in complete fear.

"I suppose I should just tell you..." Twilight said, looking up at her daughter, "Ruby, your body is a vessel for a diety..." Twilight stated, deciding to just lay it down as it was."I won't sugar coat this, Ruby. Your body has a powerful type of magic inside of it. It's commonly referred to as diety Magic. This type of Magic was the reason you didn't get your horn and wings when Luna preformed the ascension spell. Even so, when the diety Magic denied you of your horn and wings it began to slowly fuse with the alicorn Magic provided by Luna. This is the reason why you have your wings."

Twilight expected Ruby to be relieved at this information. Instead Ruby looked downright scared, her eyes darting this way and that, as if to look for an escape route. Then she turned her eyes back to her mother.

"M... Mom" Ruby stuttered, now shaking in terror. "S- stop joking a... Around... This isn't funny you know."

"She's not joking, Ruby." Celestia said as she attempted to place a hoof on Ruby's shoulder.

Ruby pulled away as she shook in fear.

"I... I..." Ruby glanced around frantically like she expected Nightmare Moon to jump from behind something. "I've gotta go." She muttered as she bolted around her mother and into the hall.

"Ruby!" Twilight cried as she turned to follow her daughter.

Before she could follow her daughter a hoof rested on her shoulder. Turning around to see who stopped her Twilight's gaze fell upon Applejack.

"Let'er go, Twi." Applejack said as she looked at her friend. "She needs to process this just as much as you do."

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ruby ran.

That was all she wanted to do. Run until she reached the end of Equestria. Her vision blurred as tears started to form in her eyes and ran down her face. She didn't want to believe her mother. She couldn't believe her mother. However, after all of the events that had taken place today all the signs pointed in the same direction.

I suppose it's true... Ruby thought to herself as she walked over to a stream, the peaceful sound of the stream calming her. Looking down at her reflection in the water she noticed her wings. Darn things. Ruby closed her eyes, trying to will them away. She neared a crackle, much like that of a lightning bolt. Opening her eyes she noticed her wings were gone.

"What the hay?" Ruby asked out loud. Okay... Ruby reflected in her head. So I willed them away and they vanished... Ruby tried to bring her wings back. In a flash of red light they were back. Well... Now they aren't half as annoying, seeing as I can cover them up. But still... Ruby looked back to her reflection in the stream. Wings or not... I'm a complete freak. She began to cry again, the feeling of isolation for what she was came roaring up to the surface. She didn't know how long she would live, she didn't know how other ponies would react if they found out about her. I don't know anything...

"Excuse me miss... Are you alright?"

Ruby gasped, quickly making her wings disappear as she turned around. There behind her was a yellow stallion with a brown mane.

"Can I help you?" Ruby inquired, still staring at the other pony.

"Oh... Uhhhh... Not really. Heh, heh." The stallion awkwardly chuckled.

"Okay then..." Ruby said as she got up, eager to get away from this pony as soon as possible.

"Where are you going, miss?" The stallion asked, a hint of fear in his voice.

"Away from you." Ruby said, deciding not to lie.

"No! Wait! Miss, please!" The stallion yelled as he ran after her. "What's your cutie mark?!"

What's my CUTIE MARK?! Ruby screamed in her head as she ran as fast as she could away from the stallion. Why would he want to know something like that?!

"Go away and leave me alone!!!" Ruby yelled as she willed her wings into existence.

"It's her!" The stallion behind her yelled, still running after Ruby. "Metal Blade! Grey Cloud! Stop her!"

Looking ahead, Ruby noticed a silver unicorn teleport in Front of her. She guessed this was Metal Blade for after a second or two a grey Pegasus came swooping down to land beside the unicorn.

It's all or nothing now. Ruby thought as she flapped her wings as hard as she could. She felt her hooves leave the ground as she soared to the top of the tree line. What the-? Ruby asked herself as she continued to fly higher. How did I fly on my first try? It took Scootaloo years before she got it dow-! Her thoughts were interrupted as Grey Cloud hit her in the ribs.

"Gotcha!" Grey Cloud yelled as Ruby fell down to earth. "Stun her now, Metal Blade!"

Ruby looked up to see the Metal Blade leering down at her, horn glowing.

"And now..." Metal Blade hissed down at her, leer still adorning her features. "Your ours."

Ruby willed her wings away hoping that Metal Blade was aiming for one of her wings. Fourtunately for Ruby that's what Metal Blade was doing at the time. Metal Blade's stun spell hit the ground where Ruby's wing had just been.

"What the-!" Metal Blade screamed as she charged up another spell.

Well that worked. Ruby said to herself as she slammed herself into Metal Blade.

"Oomf!" Metal Blade exclaimed as she staggered back.

Not wasting a moment, Ruby turned around and bucked Metal Blade in the ribs as hard as she could.

"Gyaah!!!" Metal Blade screamed in agony as her rib cage shattered.

"Impudant bitch!" The stallion roared at Ruby. "Grey Cloud!"

"On it!" Grey Cloud yelled from above.

However, before Grey Cloud could do so much as change her position in the sky, a rainbow blur shot pass, hitting the base of Grey Cloud's wing.

"Aargh!" Grey Cloud yelled as her wing came clean off, causing her to drop from the sky.

"Rainbow Dash!" Ruby happily yelled as the blur in the sky changed course and came back to where Ruby stood.

"Foolish!"

Turning to the source of the voice Ruby saw a yellow hoof coming at her face... Then all went black.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Ruby!" Rainbow screamed as she watched the stallion punch Ruby square in the face, sending Ruby to the ground like a rag doll.

"You bastard!" Rainbow screamed at the stallion as she shot towards the stallion as fast as she could.

Rainbow's hoof came into direct contact with the stallions head, and Rainbow could feel his skull shattering.

He didn't even make a sound as his life left him.

Looking around, Rainbow's eyes fell on Grey Cloud with an expression of pure hate. Grey Cloud's eyes widened at the sight.

Whimpering, Grey Cloud turned tail and fled into the woods in pure terror of the cyan Pegasus, leaving behind a trail of warm, fresh blood. Rainbow then turned to Metal Blade, who has passed out from her injury.

"Rainbow!"

Turning to the source of the voice Rainbow's gaze fell upon Twilight, Fluttershy, and Luna.

"Did you find Ruby?" Luna asked as Twilight frantically searched the area for her daughter.

"Ruby!" Twilight shrieked as she spotted her daughter's unconscious body.

"Oh, please be alive, please be alive." Twilight whispered as she embraced her daughter, tears now rolling down her face.

"This one is dead." Luna proclaimed as she searched the stallions body for any sings of life. "His skull was bashed in."

Luna removed her gaze from the corpse to look at Rainbow. "I take it you killed him?" Luna inquired.

Rainbow nodded in response, her eyes not meeting Luna's.

Sighing Luna looked towards Twilight, who was still hugging her daughter, still muttering 'please be alive, please be alive.'

Deciding to put Twilight's mind at ease Luna scanned a Ruby for any signs of life.

"She's fine, Twilight." Luna said once she finished scanning Ruby. "Just unconscious."

"That's good to know..." Twilight whispered, still not looking away from her daughter. "I guess."

"What about her?" Fluttershy asked, pointing to Metal Blade.

Luna trotted over to Metal Blade, performing the spell for a third time.

"She's alive." Luna declared, still scanning Metal Blade. "However her rib cage is completely shattered."

Fluttershy gasped at this news. "Oh, no! We'd better get her to a hospital!"

"But Fluttershy!" Rainbow groaned, "She might have been helping in the attack on Ruby!"

"While Rainbow Dash has a point," Luna began, eying Metal Blade as she did so, "we can't just leave her here. If she was assisting in the attack on Ruby perhaps we can find out why she did so."

"... Fine." Rainbow relented after a pause.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Sir!"

"What, lieutenant?"

"I have just received word from Grey Cloud! According to her the attempt failed!"

"What?!"

"She claims that Metal Blade missed when she preformed her spell!"

"She what?! I swear, if I ever- no... When I get my hooves on her...!"

"Uhhhh... Sir?"

"No matter... You are dismissed, Thunderlane!"

Metal Blade's Explanation

Author's Note

Hi all! So I've finally got this chapter published, and it's mainly dialogue... The next chapter will also be more or less dialogue. In any case I hope you enjoy this chapter! :twilightsmile:

Metal Blade's Explanation

Ruby sat in the waiting room of the Ponyville Hospital along with Twilight, Luna, and Fluttershy waiting for the results on Metal Blade. Ruby could see the door to the room that held Metal Blade, and as she waited questions ran through her head. Why did she and those other two attack me? How does she know so much? Who does she work for? Will we even tell us anything?

At that moment, Nurse Redheart came up to the four mares.

"Are you here to see Metal Blade?" She inquired.

"Yes." Twilight responded.

"Come." Nurse Redheart said as she turned around. "She has just woken up."

"Thank you." Twilight said as Nurse Redheart opened the door.

"Aaaaaah!" Came a scream from the inside.

"What was that?" Nurse Redheart asked as she peered inside.

There was Metal Blade in a full body cast, looking at Ruby with a terrified expression on her face.

"What is it, Metal Blade?" Nurse Redheart asked her patient, looking uncertain.

"N-n-nothing!" Metal Blade stammered, still looking at Ruby.

"If you're sure..." Nurse Redheart said, still looking uncertain as she exited the room, closing the door behind her.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Once Nurse Redheart had closed the door behind her, Metal Blade turned her terrified gaze away from Ruby to look at her companions.
A yellow Pegasus, and... TWO princesses? Metal Blade's expression turned into one of complete shock, then she started to whimper.

The yellow Pegasus' face became one of distress, but when she made an effort to to move over to Metal Blade, the smaller princess called her back.

"Fluttershy! Don't go near her! She could be dangerous, even in a cast!"

"But..." Fluttershy faltered, looking from Metal Blade to her friend.

"Okay, Twilight." She said as she made her way back to the group.

"Sorry, Fluttershy." Twilight whispered to her friend., then she turned her attention back to Metal Blade, and then started speaking in a forcefully polite tone.

"Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle." She began as she eyed Metal Blade suspiciously. "This is Luna, Fluttershy, and Ruby." She continued, pointing to each respective mare as she said their names. "And we'd like to ask you some questions."

Metal Blade gulped, and nodded.

"First off, did you aid in the attack against Ruby?"

Metal Blade nodded once more.

"Ruby said the same." Twilight growled.

"Why did you attack me?" Ruby asked, as she walked over to Metal Blade.

Metal Balde was shocked to see no hostility whatsoever in the fillies gaze, only curiousity.

"I was ordered to." Metal Blade responded.

"But why?" Ruby persisted. "Why do something so mean?"

"I won't say." Metal Blade growled.

"You will tell us whatever we wish to know and will do so truthfully!" Luna bellowed, getting right into Metal Blade's face as she did so.

Metal Blade whimpered as she stared into the scowling face of Princess Luna.

"Y-yes princess." Metal Blade stammered, still looking at the scowl that adorned Luna's face.

"So let's try again." Twilight said, taking charge of the inquiry. "Why did you attack Ruby?"

"Our... Our leader told us to." Metal Blade replied, voice still shaking.

"Us?" Luna asked, raising an eyebrow at this.

"The Southern Army." Metal Blade said, confidence creeping back into her voice.

"Now who is your leader?" Twilight inquired.

"Lord Argon." Came Metal Blade's reply.

"Stallion?"

"Yes."

"What's his real name?"

"I don't know."

"What does he look like?"

"I only just joined."

"But why would you join?" Ruby asked. "Why would you join something so evil?"

"I... That is..." Metal Blade stammered.

"Well?" Luna asked sharply, her scowl still on her face.

"I was homeless, okay?!" Metal Blade snapped as tears began to roll down her face.

"One night, about two weeks ago, a hang of thieves came into my house, taking all my bits I had on hoof, and burning my house to the ground! About a week ago I in an alleyway, and a hooded figure came up to me. He said that I wouldn't be homeless if I joined some group called the Southern Army. I was barely making it by at the time, and the prospect of a home again sounded like a dream come true! After I joined I began training, I excelled at my field of battle so he told me to accompany Grey Cloud and Yellow Coat to Ponyville! Apparently this thing called the Cyrstal Deity was in Ponyville and Grey Cloud, Yellow Coat, and I were supposed to go and capture it! That's all!" Unable to hold it in anymore, Metal Blade broke into sobs.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight, Luna, Fluttershy, and Ruby were all staring slack jawed at Metal Blade.

She's been through so much... Ruby thought to herself.

"But that still doesn't explain why you agreed to go on this mission of sorts." Twilight persisted, giving Metal Blade a look that was halfway between pity and anger.

"I d-didn't h-have a choice!" Metal Blade yelled between sobs.

"Th-... There's a c-contract tha-that must be made upon joining! I-if I d-diso-obey an order or run off while o-on a mission I'll be k-killed! Now I will be, seeing as I've told you all so much!"

Twilight considered this new piece of information for a moment as she looked at the distressed unicorn.

"Well it seems that this Argon character operates outside the law... So it might be hard to find him." Twilight mused, looking through the window towards Ponyville.

When Twilight looked back to Metal Blade something in her head clicked.

Metal Blade didn't want this. She didn't want to aid in the capture. She might have faked it at the time, but if she believed that her actions were right... Would she even be crying at all?

"You won't be killed, Metal Blade." Twilight stated in attempts to calm the unicorn down. "We will make sure of that."

Metal Blade's sobbing softened as she looked at Twilight.

"Really?" Metal Blade asked, sounding hopeful.

"Really." Twilight reassured, in a soft, soothing tone. However... Twilight knew she couldn't just let Metal Blade off the hook just like that. Sooner or later she would have to be punished.

"But, Metal Blade..." Twilight began, determined to keep her voice kind. "I'm sorry, but being in a group like that Southern Army just isn't allowed... Once your ribcage heals I'm afraid I'm going to have to punish you."

Upon hearing this, Metal Blade looked crestfallen, but nodded all the same.

"Yes, princess." She replied.

"You will be sentenced to seven weeks of community service in Canterlot... Unless you've proven to us that you've changed for the better."

"Wait..." Metal Blade said, confused. "Changed for the better? What do you mean by that?"

"I mean I know you're a good pony, Metal Blade. A good pony who has gotten herself into a bad point in life." Twilight replied. "If you were a bad pony, you would have been convinced that what you were doing was right, yet you have made it plain that you believed that what you were doing was wrong. So I believe that you can show that you have changed."

"Huh..." Was all Metal Blade said in reply. She hadn't thought about it that way before. "Are you sure?" She asked Twilight.

"Positive." Came the reply.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Metal Blade felt reassured by Twilight's reply as she bid the group of mares farewell. Once they left, Metal Blade let her newfound happiness tug her features into a smile. She wouldn't be killed! She was safe!

Feeling a little drowsy, Metal Blade decided to catch a quick rest.

...

Metal Blade groggily opened her eyes, only to be met with darkness.

Must be late. She thought to herself. Might as well hit the hay.

The sound of her room door opening interrupted her train of thought.

"Hello?" Metal Blade asked, nervous as to who or what might be the cause of the door opening.

In one fluid motion a hooded figure jumped from the entryway onto Metal Blade's body cast, stifling her scream with a hoof.

"Lord Argon sends his regards." The pony said, pulling out a knife as they did so.

The next sounds that could be heard were the sounds of metal entering flesh, and the coughing up of blood... Followed by a loud thud.

Deadly Autumn Winds

Autumn Breeze was lost in her thoughts as she walked up the steps to her home. She thought about her life... The one she led away from her friend, Ruby. She thought about her past... The one she had before she joined the Southern Army. She didn't know why Lord Argon had summoned her. From what Grey Cloud had told her before she reported to Lord Argon was that it had something to do with the update on the Crystal Deity, which she was sure she knew very little of. She knew that Metal Blade's stun spell had misfired, though. She had supposedly been captured as well, which was surprising. She had excelled at attack spells, so Autumn Breeze didn't understand how Metal Blade had fallen into the enemies hooves.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Aahhhh... Autumn Breeze." Lord Argon said as his top assassin came through the doors. "I suppose you are curious as to why I've summoned you here?"

"Yes, sir." Autumn Breeze responded, without any hesitation. "I heard that Metal Blade's attack missed when attempting to capture the Cryatal Deity, sir."

"Ahhh... Yes... So it seems that you were informed." Argon muttered, more to himself then to Autumn Breeze.

"Come with me, Autumn Breeze." He said, getting up out of his chair, and directing her towards a side door. "I suppose you'll need a full briefing."

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"So, Autumn Breeze..." Argon began, looking at his top assassin with interest. "How much do you know about the events concerning the Crystal Deity?"

"Not much, sir." Autumn Breeze replied in confidence. "Only that Grey Cloud told me that the Crystal Deity was exposed at the coronation of Runy Wing, shortly after that, Metal Blade, Yellow Coat, and Grey Cloud herself all were sent out to capture the Crystal Deity. Metal Blade's stun spell missed, and the Crystal Deity escaped, Metal Nlade was then taken prisoner, and Grey Cloud came back."

"Hmmm... Interesting." Argon muttered. "You say Grey Cloud told you all of this?"

"Yes, sir." Autumn Breeze abruptly responded.

"Rrgh... That mare." Argon growled. "Must she always tell the first pony she sees about her mission, then report to me?"

"Uhhhh... Sir?" Autumn Breeze asked tentatively.

"No matter." Argon said, distractedly. "It seems you current knowledge on this subject will only make it easier..."

"You see, Autumn Breeze," Argon began, "there are some finer points to this whole ordeal than you are aware of. For instance, I know of your friend Ruby... She is the Crystal Deity."

Autumn Breeze's mouth dropped open in shock.

"But sir..." She began in a disbelieving tone of voice. "What makes you so sure that she is the Crystal Deity? And with all due respect, sir... You weren't there for the coronation."

I was there the whole time, actually. Argon thought in his head.

"I have my sources, Autumn Breeze." He replied, "Surely you were too?"

"Er... No, sir... I wasn't." Autumn Breeze muttered. "I was stationed at the front gates of this castle, remember?"

"Oh, of course." Argon said, mentally facehoofing himself. "But... Back to the briefing... You see, once I found out who the Crystal Deity was, I sent out Metal Blade, Yellow Coat, and Grey Cloud to capture her. During this mission however, Yellow Coat was murdered."

The news that Yellow Coat was dead shocked Autumn Breeze greatly. He was the top hitter in the army, but Autumn Breeze kept her face void of all visible shock.

"After Grey Cloud came back and briefed me, I sent Shadow Soul to go find Metal Blade. I gave him the location of the failed mission. He claims however, that nopony was there... So he headed over to the Hospital in Ponyville. When he got there, he says that he saw Metal Blade sharing information about the Southern Army to two alicorns, one pegasus, and the Crystal Deity herself!"

Autumn Breeze's jaw dropped once again. How could Metal Balde betray the army so easily? They had given her food, shelter, and a propose in life, and she had discarded it just like that?!

"Well what do you prepose we do, sir?" Autumn Breeze inquired in an anxious tone of voice.

"You know, as do I the price of treason in the Southern Army, Autumn Breeze." Argon stated simply.

Autumn Breeze nodded her head slowly. "The price is death." She stated.

"Yes... That it is." Argon replied. "I see you remember our words well."

"So who shall we send to dispose of Metal Blade, sir?"

"... I think you are a worthy choice, Autumn Breeze." Argon replied.

"Me?! But sir, why?" Autumn Breeze asked in shock.

"Your time in the Southern Army has proven this to me, Autumn Breeze." Argon stated, without hesitation. "On top of that, the Crystal Deity and her family will be a bit wary of new ponies. However, I want you to carry out this assassination at midnight. Nopony will be in the Hospital, and if there are other ponies there, execute them. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir!" Autumn Breeze responded, saluting while she did so. "I'll leave tonight!"

"Very good..." Argon replied happily. "You always know how to please, Autumn Breeze."

"Thank you, sir." Autumn Breeze said boldly. "Shall I get ready? It's dusk now and it'll take about an hour to get to Ponyville."

"Very well." Argon replied. "You may go now."

Autumn Breeze saluted once more, then left the room for the armoury.

...

Upon her arrival to the armoury Autumn Breeze stopped to think. Why, Metal Blade? She thou to to herself as she took a belt with a knife in it off of a shelf. Why would you betray us like that?

Her eyes fell upon an old back cloak with a hood. Smiling to herself she put the cloak on, along with the belt. Perfect. she thought to herself as she examined her relfection in a mirror.

She could almost taste Metal Blade's blood on her lips as she left the room.

...

It was midnight when Autumn Breeze arrived to her destination. Thankfully nopony had noticed her, making this easier for her.

Taking out one of her knives, Autumn Breeze carefully picked the hospital door lock, successfully opening it. Turning around, Autumn Breeze came muzzle to muzzle with Nurse Redheart.

"Who are you and what do you want here?" The nurse growled.

Autumn Breeze didn't respond. All she did was take her knife back out of her belt, and shove it right into Nurse Redheart's chest.

The nurse never said a word. She just stood there for a split second, a look of shock and pain mixed upon her face. A trickle of blood came out of her mouth, and even more oozed out of the wound in her chest. She then slumped to the floor, lifeless as a rag doll.

Kicking the corpse aside, Autumn Breeze walked into the hall where the patients rooms were located, each door displaying the patients name, and their respective cutiemark.

As she walked down the hall, Autumn Nreeze became lost in thought about her cutiemark. The golden brown leaf, permenantly emblazened on her flank, symbolized how quiet she could be, when she wanted to.

She snapped out of her thoughts when she came upon the door with the name Metal Blade imprinted on it, right along with the silver fire that she knew was Metal Blade's cutiemark.

Pushing the door open, Autumn Breeze was greeted by a 'Hello?'.

Autumn Breeze didn't respond. All she did was jump onto Metal Blade's cast, and stuff her hoof into Metal Blade's mouth, stifling her scream.

"Lord Argon sends his regards." Autumn Breeze said, pulling out a knife from her belt.

She pressed its cold, metal surface onto Metal Blade's neck, drawing a small drop of blood, but before she could press down any further, she felt a sharp, cold object enter her neck.

Autumn Breeze coughed up blood, unable to breathe. She felt her life leaving her as she fell to the floor with a loud thud. She started to think about Ruby, all the good times she had spent with her lifelong friend. All the happy moments, like when Ruby was just a little filly, and got an actual Ruby from Rarity. She had never seen Ruby so delighted. She remembered the sad moments, like when Ruby had ran back to her mother, crying because Goldcoat had found her favorite doll, and burned it up right in front of her. I'll see you on the other side, Ruby. Autumn Breeze thought to herself.

It was time... She knew it. She could feel death's cold, welcoming embrace wrapping around her and taking her last drop of life that pulsed through her body.

And then... Nothing.

The Last Leaves of Autumn

Author's Note

Soooo... Here's a slow moving chapter. I don't blame you if you don't like the funeral scene... I'm not good at writing funeral scenes... In any case I hope you enjoy. :twilightsmile:

A little outline for the next few chapters: We get more familiar with Ruby's deity powers, because as of this chapter its been a few weeks since the coronation and her life has been very busy and tragic since then. So there you go. I hope I've satisfied your spoiler monsters. :twilightsmile:

And I apologize for the short chapter... Not much happens here.

The Last Leaves of Autumn

Metal Blade looked towards the door in shock. There, standing in the doorway stood Rainbow Dash, wearing a cloak, black as night with a hood over her face.

"Sorry about that." She said, lifting her hood.

"I thought I recognized you..." Metal Blade said, her voice quivering. "You're the one who killed Yellow Coat."

"So you were still conscious for that, huh?" Rainbow inquired as she pulled her knife out of the assassins corpse.

"You remember my name, yes?" She asked as she lifted the hood of the corpse.

Metal Blade didn't have any time to respond as Rainbow gasped.

"What?!" She practically screamed as she stared at the face of the now dead assassin. "But... That's!"

"What's wrong?" Metal Blade asked, unable to see anything.

Rainbow looked at Metal Blade, unable to fight back the tears that were forming in her eyes.

"I'm sorry..." Rainbow's voice shook as she looked at Metal Blade. "But I have to go."

Before Metal Blade could react, Rainbow was gone.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ruby felt numb. She felt numb as she walked over the the casket where Autumn Breeze was held. Numb as she added a marigold to the bouquet that Autumn Breeze held in her hooves. Numb as she looked at her friends appearance. Autumn Breeze wore a peaceful expression, as if she were sleeping without a care in the world. Her dress bore a remarkable resemblance to Fulttershy's old gala dress. It was nature based. It went well with her already green coat, and orange stripe, her gold and brown mane and the marigolds went well with them as well, so Autumn Breeze looked like the autumn season on a ponies body.

Just like her name. Ruby thought to herself as she stared at her friend, and as she did so, she remembered how she had found out that her friend had died and the events that followed.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Hey, mom?" Ruby asked as she walked towards Twilight. To her surprise, she was crying.

Ruby lifted an eyebrow, a bit unnerved by this display of emotions. "What's wrong?"

Ruby was taken by surprise when suddenly her mom pulled her into a hug, nearly crushing the life out of her

"Mom?" Ruby asked again, wory creeping into her voice.

"I'm sorry, Ruby!" Twilight wailed into Ruby's shoulder. "So, so sorry!"

"Mom?" Ruby asked again, the fear evident in her voice. "What happened?"

"I-It's ab-bout Autumn Breeze." Twilight responded, her sobbing as loud a ever.

At the mention of her friend Ruby tensed up.

"What about Autumn Breeze?" Ruby inquired, her voice shaking. What had happened to her friend? Was she sick? Or hurt? So many questions rushed through Ruby's head she was surprised she could keep track of them all.

"Ruby..." Twilight began tentatively. "There was an accident involving Autumn Breeze..."

"What do you mean by accident?" Ruby asked her mother, her voice rising quickly.

"Is she hurt? Is she in the hospital? WHAT HAPPENED?!" Ruby roared as she pushed herself away from her mother. Her wings popping into existence, outstretched and intimidating.

"What's going on here?" A voice sounded from behind Ruby.

Ruby turned around to find Cadence who, much to Ruby's surprise wore a grim expression.

"I heard something happened to Autumn Breeze." Ruby stated, the anger in her voice still apparent.

Cadence took a step away from Ruby and, much to Ruby's surprise, started to cry. At that moment Ruby started to fear the worst.

"Sh-... She's not dead... Is she?" Ruby chocked out, her voice no louder than Fluttershy's.

"I'm so sorry, Ruby." Cadence squeaked through her crying.

"No..." Ruby said, backing away from her mother and Cadence. "No... No!" Ruby's started to scream as her mind raced. Autumn Breeze was dead. She would never see her again.

Confused and hurt, Ruby bolted for the door, tears streaming down her face as she ran out of the castle, not caring who saw her wings.

...

She arrived at a stream she remembered all to well. This is where I first met Metal Blade. Ruby thought to herself as she stared at her reflection. Her wings sparkled in the sunlight, and when Ruby turned to look at them, they seemed... Soothing. The reassuring glimmer coupled with the soft sound of the creek, and the chirping of the birds all seemed to calm Ruby down. She then heard the soft movement of grass. Turning around her eyes fell upon princess Luna, and all her grief came back to her all at once.

"Lost in your thoughts, I see." Luna commented. Her voice seemed to echo through the silent woods, although that did little to comfort Ruby.

Ruby merely nodded, her whole body trembling in grief as she fought back her tears. Luna seemed to understand, however, and pulled Ruby into a hug with her wing.

"All will be okay, Ruby." Luna soothed, "You'll see. Just remember that Autumn Breeze is in a better place now."

At that last comment a blinding wave of numbness hit Ruby, smothering all of her emotions. She wanted to snap back at Luna, to tell her that she was wrong. But Ruby couldn't find the strength to. All she could manage was a tiny nod at Luna's words, then, without saying anything, got up and walked back home, the sound of the stream still in her ears.

Focus, Ruby

Two weeks.

Two weeks since the tragic event in which Autumn Breeze lost her life. To Twilight's surprise, Ruby had recovered quickly from the events, so Twilight decided now would be the time to propose the idea of training to Ruby. Twilight didn't want Ruby to be trained to fight, but this Argon character seemed to want Ruby for his own underhooved reasons, so Ruby would need to know how to defend herself.

"Ruby!" Twilight called.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ruby was lying on her bed, her wings outstretched, and looking through the window when she heard her name.

"Ruby!"

"Hmmm?" Ruby muttered as she picked herself up off of her bed. "I wonder what Mom wants."

"Yes, Mom?" Ruby called, looking for her mother.

"Over here, Ruby." Came a voice from Ruby's right.

Ruby turned towards the source of the voice. Her eyes fell on not only her mother, but Shining Armour, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Celesita, Luna, and Cadence.

"What're you all doing?" Ruby inquired.

Twilight heaved a sigh. "Ruby... We need to talk to you."

"What about?" Ruby asked, cocking her head.

"Ruby... You've been through a lot," Twilight began, watching her daughter with a nervous expression on her face. "and due to recent events, we feel the need to offer you this."

"Offer me what?" Ruby asked again, quickly becoming nervous.

"We wish to train you in the art of combat!" Luna stated abruptly.

Ruby took a step back in shock. Train? In battle?

"Why?" Ruby squeaked. Her voice no louder than Fluttershy's.

"Ruby..." Cadence began as she walked over to Ruby, and wrapped her hoof around her. "Listen. We don't know who this Argon character is or what his motives are. So please. Do this for us."

Ruby held her breath, and slowly nodded her head. "Fine..." She relented, exhaling as she did so. "So how will the training work?" She inquired.

Shining Armour stepped towards Ruby, a smile on his face. "Twily will help you first. Then Rainbow Dash."

"Okay, then." Ruby muttered, still nervous about the prospect of training.

"Then let us proceed to the training grounds!" Luna exclaimed loudly.

"Here we go again." Celestia sighed. "Luna's always had a soft spot for combat."

...

"So, Ruby." Twilight began as she took out a book. "I want to keep combat to a minimum right now. Okay?"

"Okay." Ruby replied.

"Good. So right now I want to find out more about your magic."

"By magic you mean..." Ruby inquired, looking to her wings as she gave them a little flap.

Twilight giggled at the sight of her daughter looking at her wings. "Yes, Ruby. Your deity magic. Now according to this book..." Twilight trailed off as she opened her book and started skimming through it, muttering to herself all the while.

"Mom? What's that book about?" Ruby asked her mother.

"This?" Twilight asked, levitating the book to show Ruby. "Scale of Magic by Starswirl the Bearded. He had a deity, just like you."

"Really?" Ruby inquired, still looking at the front cover of the book. "But wasn't Starswirl a unicorn?"

"Yes he was, but the Deity of Magic allowed him to cycle to between an earth pony and a unicorn."

Weird. Ruby thought to herself as her mother turned her attention back to her book.I wonder what he has on the other deities... If he has anything at all on them.

As if on cue, Twilight spoke up, bringing Ruby back to reality. "Ah! The Crystal Deity!"

"Wait." Ruby interrupted. "How does Starswirl have information on the Crystal Deity when I've never met him?"

"Well I would assume that Starswirl upon his departure from Canterlot went to track down the other vessels and attempt to learn more about them before they... Passed on." Celestia answered.

"So you're saying that there was a pony that held the Crystal Deity before me?" Ruby inquired.

"I should think so." Came the reply.

Ruby nodded her head. "I suppose that makes sense." Ruby turned to her mother. "So mom. What does that book have on the Crystal Deity?"

"Hmm? Oh! Yes." Twilight muttered, snapping out of her thoughts, "Well it says here that your wings should function like Pegasi wings, and that they should work on your first try, because the deity itself holds all the flight knowledge, not you."

"I guess that makes sense." Ruby said, more to herself than to her mother.

"It also says that your wings can also function like a unicorn's horn, but quite differently." Twilight carried on, her eyes never leaving her book. "Ruby, can you feel some magic inside of you?"

Ruby concentrated, scoping herself for any feeling of magic. After a few seconds she came across her 'magic reserves' as her mother called them. To her surprise, they were brimming with magic, just waiting to be used.

"Yes, Mom." She replied.

"Good." Twilight said, smiling at her daughter, "Now I want you to take some of your magic, and send it to your wings."

Ruby did as she was told, and pushed a healthy amount of Magic to her wings. All of a sudden, they were enveloped in a red aura that Ruby was all too familiar with. The fibers of magic pulsing through her wings, as if they had a life of their own. The sight of the energy dancing on Ruby's wings was breath taking. Everypony gasped at the sight. Once Twilight recovered, she turned back to her book.

"Okay, so the book says that you can use your magic in a number of different ways, Ruby. However, today we'll be focusing on combat. So what I want you to do is something basic, flap your wings at me."

Ruby did so and gave her wings a strong flap in her mothers direction. The energy flew out of her wings hard and fast. Twilight only just managed to put up a shield to block her daughters attack. The energy collided with the shield and dissipated, the shield shaking in the process.

"Good, Ruby." Twilight complimented. "Now I want you to hold your wings out in front of you, and concentrate on a point between them.

Ruby did as she was told, and held her wings out in front of her. Concentrating directly between her wings, a small red glow began to form.

"Now channel your energy into your fixed point" Twilight administrated.

Ruby took some of her magic, and channeled it into the red glow. Slowly, it began to grow, until it touched both of Ruby's wings.

Twilight looked around for a suitable target, eventually her eyes landed on a lone tree. Twilight looked at it more carefully. It was dead, and it seemed like a suitable target.

"Attack that tree." She instructed her daughter.

Ruby sent her energy ball hurtling at the tree. When the ball struck, it blew up, engulfing the whole tree in a red glow, too bright to look at. When the glow had subsided, there was no hint that a tree even stood there. There was just a big crater the size of a fully grown dragon's head.

"I think that's too powerful for you to practice again at this time, Ruby." Celestia commented.

"Yeah." Ruby half-conciously responded.

"Ruby," Twilight called to her daughter. "I want you to try some defensive magic."

Ruby diverted her attention back to her mother, waiting for her next set of instructions.

"I want you to focus on a point in front of you."

Ruby knew what her mother was asking her to do, and poured her energy into the point, creating a sphere of energy again.

"Good, Ruby." Twilight complimented, looking quite happy. "Now I want you to take hold of the sphere mentally and shape it into a shield."

Ruby did as she was told and pictured the sphere changing shape. To her surprise, the energy ball did just as she wanted it to. Grinning at this fact, Ruby quickly shaped it into a shield.

"Good, Ruby. Now I'm going to fire a spell at you, are you ready?"

"Yes." Ruby said confidently. Ready to see how strong her shield would hold against her mothers attack.

Twilight charged up a spell and sent it at Ruby. Ruby however was ready. Ready for the lavender bolt that was hurtling towards her shield, but as she watched it come closer she became ensconced by it. She didn't know why, but something about the bolt seemed beautiful to her. She unconsciously dropped her shield, allowing the bolt to plant a firm hit on her chest.

"Oof!" Ruby groaned as she staggered back a few steps.

"Ruby!" Twilight screamed as she rushed over towards her daughter, wrapping her in a firm embrace. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine, Mom." Ruby groaned. "Although it would be easier if I could breathe."

"Oh, sorry, Ruby." Twilight said, releasing her daughter from her embrace.

Celestia giggled at the sight, earning her the attention of her sister.

"Sister? Whatever do you find so funny?" Luna inquired, giving her sister a confused look.

"Hmmm? Oh, pardon me, Luna. I was merely looking at Twilight and Ruby and noticing the sweet, loving relationship those two share. I rarely see it anymore." Celestia explained quickly.

"I see." Luna said, looking back at Twilight and Ruby. "We're so busy with our usual duties we rarely get to see the bonds of family, aside from our own. I wish we were in happier times, sister."

"So do I, Luna." Celestia said, wrapping her sister in a hug.

So do I.

Author's Note

I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I know it's been ages since I last updated! I've had a million ideas coursing through my head, and one of my friends is staying at my place for a month. He likes my iPad. O_O So chapter updates will be a bit distant from one another.

P.S. I'm writing a chapter of a new series. The idea was screaming at me 'Put me on paper, please!' So it'll be out... Then I'll divert my attention back to this series.

P.P.S. Like I might have not stated before? I don't know, but as always, I'm open to criticism! :twilightsmile:

Discharged

Author's Note

Soooo... With great happiness, I give you the tenth chapter of this series. I do hope you enjoy, and if you did, please comment on what you liked. Thanks. :twilightsmile:

Discharged

"Thunderlane!"

"Yes, Lord Argon?"

"Is the transfer spell ready?"

"Yes, Lord Argon!"

"Good... We shall attack in two to three days time!"

"Understood, Lord Argon! Is there anything else you need to know?"

"Are Chrysallis' changelings in position?"

"Yes, Lord Argon!"

"Good. I need to speak to Chrysallis as soon as possible!"

"Yes, Lord Argon!"

"Go now."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ruby sat in her bedroom, gazing out towards the Ponyville Hospital. I hope the operation for Metal Blade comes along okay today. she thought to herself. Today she had to train with Rainbow Dash, however today was also the day where Metal Blade would be tested to see if her ribcage had recovered enough. If it had, the doctors could cast a healing spell on her to repair the rest of the damage, effectively releasing Metal Blade from the Hospital, and discharging her to the castle.

"Ruby!"

Ruby turned around to find her mother with Rainbow at her side patiently waiting just outside her room's doors.

"Time to go, now." Twilight explained.

Ruby nodded silently, getting off the bed and walking over to Twilight.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Lord Argon sends his regards." The cloaked pony said. She pushed her dagger deeper into Metal Blade's neck. Metal Blade tried to move, but her cast prevented any sort of movement. The best she could do was scream, but no sound came out. The cloaked pony began to drag the dagger towards Metal Blade's chest, cutting both her and the cast as if they were both made of butter. As the pony pulled the dagger out of Metal Blade, her vision began to blur, until she was plunged into darkness.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Metal Blade woke with a gasp to the sound of birds. They were chirping their songs just outside Metal Blade's window. She observed the birds, and sighed, happy to be back in the conscious world. She tried to burrow deeper into her cast as when the door opened, and a pony wearing a white coat opened the door. Upon noticing her, he smiled.

"Greetings, Miss. I'm Doctor Pool. I'm here to test your recovery."

Metal Blade nodded in understanding.

"First off, have you felt any spontaneous pain anywhere in your chest?" Doctor Pool inquired.

"No." Metal Blade replied.

"Have you been able to move your hind legs?"

Metal Blade gave the doctor a hard stare. "Are you kidding?" She asked, "I've been stuck in a cast. Of course I can't move my legs."

"I ment within your cast." Doctor Pool deadpanned.

Metal Blade rolled her eyes, and tried to move her hind left hoof. She felt it hit the inner part of her cast with a small thunk each time.

"Did that hurt at all, Miss?" Doctor Pool inquired.

Metal Blade shook her head. "No, it didn't. Why?"

Doctor Pool didn't answer. He simply smiled, and charged up his horn. "It simply means that we can heal you right now, then discharge you."

Metal Blade could hardly contain her excitement. She and Twilight had talked about where Metal Blade would be discharged to, and came to the conclusion that she would be discharged to Twilight's Castle. The prospect of living in a castle didn't excite Metal Blade all that much. The prospect of getting to see Ruby again was exciting. Ever since Autumn Breeze had been killed, Ruby had come to visit Metal Blade every day. Metal Blade had taken a liking to Ruby, and Ruby seemed to enjoy her company as well. Metal Blade smiled to herself as the doctor took off her cast. I wonder how Ruby's doing right now. She couldn't wait to get out of the hospital.

. . .

Metal Blade stepped out of the hospital, and was greeted by a gentle breeze blowing from her left. The wind casually blew her mane in front of her eyes. She looked around at the trees, and heard the soft rustling of their leaves. She took a big sniff and smelled the cool summer air.

She loved it.

She began at a small walk towards Twilight's Castle, watching all of the other ponies do their own thing without a care in the world. Eventually she couldn't wait any longer, and took off in a gallop towards Twilight's Castle.

Upon her arrival, she noticed Princess Celestia, just outside Twilight's Castle. Upon noticing Metal Blade, Celesta frowned at Metal Blade, turned, and walked towards the Everfree Forest.

What was that about? Metal Blade asked herself as she walked over to the stairs of Twilight's Castle.We've never even met. However, her thoughts were interrupted by a loud shriek.

"Metal Blade!"

Metal Blade looked up just in time to see a red blur throw itself at her, before she was struck in the chest.

"Oof!" She exclaimed as her attacker wrapped their forearms around her.

"You're finally here!" Ruby exclaimed, still latched onto Metal Blade.

Metal Blade smiled own at Ruby who in turn smiled back at Metal Blade.

"Well it seems that Ruby has grown very fond of you." A voice came from the castle doors.

Metal Blade looked up only to find Twilight Sparkle calmly observing the event before her. Metal Blade made a relatively awkward bow from her position, due to the red pony wrapped around her.

"Hello, Princess." Metal Blade greeted. "I thank you for letting me stay in your castle."

Twilit looked uncomfortable, but accepted Metal Blade's thanks all the same. "Hey, Ruby." She called to the filly wrapped around Metal Blade. "Why don't you set up the final preparations for Metal Blade's room? I need to talk to her about a few things first."

Ruby nodded, and dashed back into the castle. Twilight then turned to Metal Blade. "About your punishment," she began.

Metal Blade gulped. She had completely forgotten about her community service punishment.

"I've decided against carrying it out."

Metal Blade blinked in confusion. She had relieved her of her community service? Why? Apparently Twilight could guess her questions, as she explained.

"You were there for a Ruby, Metal Blade. After Autumn Breeze's death you were the only one who managed to cheer her up. We all tried our own methods, yet they never worked. However, every time she left your room, she left with a smile on her face, and for that I thank you."

"Oh, your welcome." Metal Blade said awkwardly. As Twilight guided Metal Blade to her room, Metal Blade couldn't help but think of how her life had changed, and of what Argon's next move was, but she shook off these feelings. You're in the present, Metal Blade. she chastised herself.The past is in the past. That's all that matters.

Sharp Minds

Author's Note

If you've already read this series beyond chapter nine, I ask you to go back, and reread it, for I changed a few lines in there that change these chapters.

Sharp Minds

"Thunderlane!"

"Yes, Lord Argon?"

"A change of plans... We will attack today!"

"Yes, Lord Argon! Shall I update Chrysalis?"

"Yes, do that now."

"At once, Lord Argon!"

"Now... I must return to Ponyville..."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Metal Blade groaned quietly as the first annoying rays of Celestia's sun struck her closed eyelids. She attempted to roll over to block the sunlit from her eyes, but only succeeded in falling off of her bed, onto the floor.

"Ow." She groaned as she pushed the covers up off of herself.

She picked herself up, and looked around the room she was in.

"Oh, right." She muttered aloud as her memories of the previous day came flooding back to her. "I'm staying in Projcess Twilight's Castle now."

After she remade her bed, she opened the doors of her room, and made her way to Ruby's room. She tentatively raised a hoof, and knocked on the door three times. The door opened with a small creak, and, to Metal Blade's delight revealed Ruby, who, upon seeing Metal Blade's face, gasped in delight, and wrapped her hooves around Metal Blade in a fierce hug. Metal Blade giggled at the sudden outburst of affection, but simply said "Good morning, Ruby."

"Good morning!" Ruby cheerfully responded.

"Did you sleep well?" Metal Blade inquired, unlocking herself from Ruby's hold.

"Yes!" Ruby said, with a voice so happy it could rival Pinkie's. "What about yourself?"

She is so polite. Metal Blade thought inwardly. Their conversation might have continued, had it not been for the loud cheering that came from the dining room. Both Ruby and Metal Blade looked up in alarm, both staring in the direction of the noise.

"Well I guess the day started without us, huh?" Metal Blade joked, turning back to face Ruby, who chuckled in response.

"I guess so." She replied.

Metal Blade made their way towards the dining room, each relatively nervous at the prospect of finding out who, or what had caused the noise. When they arrived, they saw Twilight, Luna, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie all gathered around Rainbow Dash, and congratulating her for something. A quick look around the room revealed Shining Armour and Celestia, engaged in passive conversation, while Cadence sat away from them all, beaming at the sight. Upon noticing Ruby and Metal Blade, however, Cadence waved them over with a happy, "Good morning!"

"Good morning!" Metal Blade called back to Cadence, earning her the attention of everypony else in the room.

"Oh, hello, Metal Blade! Good morning, Ruby!" Twilight called out.

After a round of plesant 'Good mornings', everypony got themselves settled around the dining table, save for Twilight, who disappeared into the kitchen momentarily, only to come back with plates of eggs. After everypony was given their eggs, Twilight sat down. The breakfast continued in silence for a moment, before Metal Blade voiced a question.

"Ummm... Princess Twilight?"

"Yes, Metal Blade?" Twilight responded uncomfortably, putting down her fork and knife as she did so.

"If you don't mind my asking, what was with the cheering a few minutes ago?"

"Oh, that?" Twilight asked, turning to look at Rainbow, who put down her fork and knife as well, a smile on her face. After a moment of smiling, Rainbow spoke up.

"I'm going to ask Thunderlane out on a date!" She proclaimed confidently.

Metal Blade and Ruby exchanged looks. Finally, Metal Blade broke the exchange, and turned back towards Rainbow with a smile on her face.

"Congratulations." Metal Blade began. "When are you going to ask him?"

"I was sort of thinking today." Rainbow responded lazily.

"Wow. Today?" Metal Blade began. "You must really have the hots for him, huh?" She teased.

Rainbow's cheeks turned a deep shade for red at that particular comment, and hastily replied with a "Shut up.". Earning her a glare from Twilight, and a snort of laughter from Luna who, in turn, received a glare from Twilight. The others just sat, staring at Rainbow with flabbergasted looks on their faces, save for Celestia. Who was calmly eating her eggs, displaying just how different she was from her sister.

Feeling the tension in the room rise, Metal Blade quickly excused herself, and pushed open the doors of Twilight's Castle, and out into the world.

Metal Blade was quite happy to breathe the outdoor summer air. Quite happy to feel the wind in her mane. Quite happy to hear the chirping of the birds. A quick glance at the sky showed her that it was a clear, sunny day. The perfect weather for a walk. She thought to herself.

Whilst walking through the still unfamiliar roads of Ponyville, she couldn't help but feel like there was a certain... Awkwardness, in the air that wasn't there before. She shrugged it off as her food not agreeing with her, and continued walking. Walking to one place. Walking to where she had first met Ruby.

. . .

Metal Blade could feel the grass under her hooves as she arrived at her destination. This is where I first met Ruby. She thought to herself. No matter how many times the told herself that she wasn't that mare anymore, she kept thinking of how, when they had first met, she had tried to foal nap Ruby for Argon's own underhooved reasons.

"Metal Blade!" a voice sounded from behind her.

She turned around, only to find herself facing Ruby, who wore her usual happy look whenever she was around Metal Blade. Metal Blade felt her lips pull themselves into a smile. She didn't know why, but every time she laid eyes on that filly, she could feel a smile come to her face.

"Hey, Ruby." She greeted. "Was I missed?"

"Sort of." Ruby replied. "We were going to Sugarcube Corner for a treat! Do you want to join us? Celestia offered up the idea."

Metal Blade mulled the offer over in her head. It wasn't like she really had anything planned for today, anyways, but the fact that Celestia of all ponies had proposed the idea intruiged her.

"Sure." She replied, much to Ruby's delight.

"Yay!" Ruby exclaimed, then she galloped off, leaving Metal Blade to catch up.

She really is quite something. Metal Blade thought, putting on some speed in order to catch up to Ruby. Even though she acts responsible, she really is still a playful little filly on the inside.

Once Metal Blade caught up to Ruby, she noticed Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash, prince Shining Armour, and princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence, and Twilight, all waiting for them.

"There you are, Metal Blade!" Twilight greeted happily.

"Hello, Twilight!" Metal Blade responded, however, her attention was diverted to Celestia, who seemed to be glancing around every few seconds at passing ponies, and ruffling her wings impatiently while she did so.

"Princess? Is something wrong?" Metal Blade inquired towards the sun goddess.

To her alarm, Celestia visibly jumped at Metal Blade's question.

"Hmm? Oh, erm... It's nothing, thank you for your concern, Metal Blade." She quickly said.

She gave Metal Blade a nervous, and obviously forced smile. Metal Blade was unconvinced, but played along all the same. "Oh. Pardon me, princess. I didn't mean to interrupt your train of thought."

"It's quite alright, Metal Blade." Celestia said hurriedly.

Metal Blade nodded, and waited for the rest of her friends to enter Sugarcube Corner, so she could watch Celestia for the briefest of moments.

It was then, when she entered the shop, Metal Blade noticed Celestia give a small, sharp nod to the pony next to her. It was then that the ponies face lit up in the most evil of grins. As soon a she saw that transaction, something in Metal Blade's mind clicked. The reason Pknyville felt so awkward, the reason why Celestia had seemed so distracted that morning, the reason why Celestia had proposed that they all go to Sugarcube Corner for a 'treat'. It was a trap, and a clever one at that.

"GIRLS!!!" Metal Blade roared towards her friends. "WE HAVE TO LEAVE, NOW!!!"

But for all her warning, she had figured it out all to late. For it was then that the move was made. All because of one simple nod of the head.

It was then, that Ponyville pounced.

No Time To Scream

Metal Blade woke to the sounds of yelling. She groaned softly as she rolled over. She could feel the hard, cold floor beneath her. It reminded her of the time she had spent in the Southern... Oh, no! Metal Blade screamed in her head. Without wasting a second, she scrambled to her hooves, and looked around her, her eyes flitting left and right. She could feel her heart rate pounding in her chest. It was as she had feared. She was locked in a cell in the Southern Army's base. Locked in a dungeon within the Castle of Two Sisters. In the other cells, were residents of Ponyville. That explains why Ponyville attacked in in Sugarcube Corner. The real residents were here. Other groans from around her derailed her train of thought. She looked around, and, to her relief, she was not alone. Twilight, Luna, Cadence, Shining Armour, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were all with her. Wait a minute... Metal Blade began to feel her heart pound even faster. Where's Ruby?! Without sparing any time, she turned her concentration towards the cell door, focusing her magic into her horn with the sole intent of blasting the wall in, but no magic came to her. She quickly felt her horn, and to her horror, she felt a small, metal object wrapped around it. A magic nullifier! She realized. Without thinking, she charged at the cell door, slamming against it with all the force she could muster.

"Ruby!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

She could hear groans from the others, but she did not care. Ruby was with Argon, and she needed to save her. How? She didn't know, however, all of her noise she had made had successfully woken up her friends.

"Somepony..." Twilight mumbled into the floor. "Stop that noise."

"Twilight!" Metal Blade yelled as loud as she could. "Argon has Ruby!"

It was as if lightning had struck the room. Everypony was suddenly up on their hooves, all trying their hardest to take the doors down. Some however, trying to take off their magic nullifier rings.

"Hey!" A gruff voice sounded from atop a flight of stairs. "Keep it quiet down there!"

Just then, a softer, and kinder voice spoke up.

"Don't you remember, Blaze? We were supposed to take them to Argon once they regained consciousness."

"Ah... Right you are, Frost." Blaze replied in a softer voice. Then, in his loud voice, as if her were commanding an army, he spoke again. "All right! Fetch me the prisoners, so we can take them to Lord Argon!"

All at once, a squad of ten ponies came down the flight of stairs, each on wearing the signature red and black armour that represented their status as guards in the Southern Army. One calmly unlocked the doors, then stepped aside to allow Metal Blade and the rest out of the cell. On her way out, Metal Blade examined the armor the guards had. She could tell they were enchanted, so physical harm was out of the question. She realized that her only option was to go quietly to meet Argon. Celestia. She reminded herself. It's Celestia, not Argon. It's obvious. Why else would all of Ponyville attack just because she nodded her head? But was that even Ponyville? They arrived in front of two large oak doors.

"In." One of the guards said, and shoved Metal Blade into the room beyond.

After she regained her balance, and her friends had entered the room alongside her, she looked around the room. It was a sept. An underground sept, with many different halls that she knew leaded to different places that she knew was below the Castle, each hall had two guards. Each one sporting the black and red at armour. Yet the place looked like it was decorated for a ritual. There were red and black banners, with gold lining just about everywhere she looked, and in the center of the room, were ten candles, all laid out in the pattern of a circle, and there, in the middle of that circle, was Ruby, looking scared out of her mind.

"Ruby!" Twilight and Metal Blade shouted in unison, whilst the others simply stared at the scene in horror.

Twilight and Metal Blade began to run towards Ruby, but a cloaked, hooded figure stepped out of one of the halls, and silently cast a teleport spell. Suddenly, Twilight and Metal Blade found themselves back where they were before.

"Stay." The pony said in a gruff voice, before calmly waking over to Ruby.

"Argon, I take it?" Twilight spat.

Argon nodded, and lifted his hood. He was a dark red unicorn stallion, with dark grey striped running down his back, and a jet black mane, that looked alarmingly like Ditzy's. He was taller than the average unicorn, but the feature that stood out the most were his eyes. They were a deep Crimson colour, that brought out the blood lust in his eyes. It was almost hypnotic, if you were to stare for too long. Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Metal Blade.

"That's not Argon, Twilight. Argon never existed. That's the princess."

She hadn't meant for it to sound so blunt, but the reactions she got were jarring.

"DO YOU REFER TO MY SISTER?!" Luna roared at Metal Blade, the hostility in her voice apparent. "PRAY YOU DO NOT, OR I WILL HAVE YOU HUNG FOR THIS OUTRAGEOUS ACCUSATION!!!"

Suddenly, Metal Blade felt somepony give a sharp blow to her stomach. She fell to the ground, wheezing slightly as Twilight drew her forehoof back.

"Don't. Ever. Say. That. Again." She growled to Metal Blade, while her friends made similar noises of shock and outrage.

"Girls." Metal Blade weakly protested as she picked herself up. "Please listen to me. I know this, because-."

"Because what?!" Twilight screamed at Metal Blade. "You had better have a good enough reason for this outrageous claim! For if you don't I will send you to the darkest dungeon in Equestria!"

"Listen to me!" Metal Blade yelled back. "I know, because when we were all at Sugarcube Corner yesterday I saw Celestia give a nod to a pony next to her! That was when I warned you, but I was too late!"

Twilight stamped her left forehoof on the ground in anger, her expression livid. "THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!!!"

"Oh? Then where is she?" Metal Blade replied.

"Simple!" Twilight responded. "She's right... over..." Twilight looked around, searching for her mentor.

Luna looked for her sister as well, her shock and anger replaced now by genuine horror. Due to the fact that Celestia was nowhere in sight, Metal Blade now had some claim to her statement. Suddenly, Argon began to chuckle, earning him the attention of everypony in the room.

"What's so funny? Where have you taken my sister?!" Luna asked, her voice rising rapidly.

"Dismissed." Argon said, waving a hoof as he did so.

At once, the guards exited the room. Leaving only Argon, Ruby, and the others alone in the room.

"Where is my sister?!" Luna roared at Argon once again.

"Oh, LuLu." Argon spoke, his voice now sounding alarmingly like Celestia's. "You're so easy to fool."

"WHAT?!! Luna bellowed at Argon. "DO NOT JEST WITH ME, YOU SCOUNDREL!!!

Argon said nothing. Instead, he calmly charged his horn up, and let loose a wave of golden light, and as it washed over him, he began to change shape. His already tall form became taller, his coat turned a pearl white, on his flank, the cutiemark of the sun was born. His jet black mane became one of a rainbow of sorts. His eyes reverted back to their original violet appearance, and from his back, a pair of wings sprouted. After some other changes were made, Argon was gone, and there before the horrified group, stood Princess Celestia.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight felt her heart grow cold with fear as she witnessed the unmasking of Argon. She now knew that Argon was indeed Celestia, for she knew a magic terminator spell when she saw one. She now knew who her mentor was... and it hurt. It hurt to see the pony she had viewed as a second mother betray her. It hurt to find out that her closest friend was her worst enemy. It hurt to see her idol turn out to be exactly what she despised. All her life, she had viewed Celestia's greatness as her goal, and she had tried to match it, but now? Now she saw Celestia for who she really was. A cold hearted, power hungry pony. She might have been able to feel rage, but her sorrow, and hurt overpowered any other emotions she might have felt at that moment.

"Twilight." She heard Celestia's voice, and looked up hopefully, hoping this all was some sort of prank. Instead, all she saw was Celestia with a small frown on her face. "I want you to join me, Twilight." Celestia began. "I can offer you so much in this. I want to build a new world for us, where we can rule as deities, but I don't want to do this alone, so please. Join me."

Twilight felt all of her sorrow turn turn to anger. Her mentor, Princess Celestia, wanted het to rule by her side? After she had lied, and betrayed Twilight? After she had foal napped her daughter? After she had pretended to care for Ruby's safety?! Twilight took a few deep breaths, prepared to give her mentor her answer.

"No." She said

"What's that?" Celestia inquired, stunned by her student's response. "You said no?"

"Yes, Primcess. I said no." Twilight clarified. "You betrayed me, when you were like a second mother to me. You worked against me, when you pretended to be on our side. You PLOTTED TO FOAL NAP RUBY, WHEN YOU PRETENDED TO CARE FOR HER SAFETY!!!"

Celestia turned her head away from Twilight's harsh glare. "I see." She finally muttered. "I had hoped your answer would be different." She then turned her head back to Twilight, but her eyes were fixed in a point beyond. "Kill her now, Starswirl."

Suddenly, Twilight felt a sharp pain in her heart. She looked down, to find a long metal spear sticking out of her chest. She couldn't hear much anymore, but one so ment stuck out amongst at the cries and screams she could only dimly hear.

"Good bye, my... Faithful student."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Rainbow saw her friend, her closest friend, get pierced by a spear, just like everypony else. She was unable to stop it,crust like everypony else. However, she was the first one to reach her friend when the last of her life left her body. She couldn't stop the tears in her eyes from flowing, nor did she want to. Then she heard a voice. One that silenced the others. One that should have died a long time ago.

"So she was your prized pupil?" A snide voice called out. Silencing her friends. "What a pity."

Rainbow looked towards Celestia, just in time to see a silver flash of light, and from it came a silver unicorn, with the longest beard she had ever seen. That was when she felt a surge of uncontrollable rage.

"You... BASTARDS!!!" She roared at the top of her lungs. "I'M GOING TO BUCKING MURDER YOU ALL!!!"

"I'd like to see you try!" Came a voice that was all to familiar to Rainbow.

"Th... Thunderlane?" She squeaked, her voice no louder than Fluttershy's.

"Yes." The stallion said, stepping out from a side hall, advancing on Rainbow Dash. "It's me." He jeered, taking out a knife from his belt.

All of the fight in Rainbow left her body. She couldn't do anything. Her hung legs buckled, causing her to fall down into a sit position, Thunderlane advancing in her all the while.

"But... You... Thunderlane... Why?" She squeaked.

"You want the truth, Dash?" Thunderlane spat. The spite in his voice unbelievable. "I've always hated you. I may never have shown it, but I always have. You always rubbing your achievements in everypony' face like your the boss. I remember when Cloudsdale charged us with supplying the water. You took charge and tried to use if for personal gain. Always bossing us around like its no big deal." He was standing over Rainbow now, relishing in the fact that her friends were too shocked to even stop him. He placed his left forehoof on Rainbow's shoulder. She made no effort to stop him. "We have only one price in the Southern Army for that." Thunderlane readied his dagger, and shoved it twice into Rainbow's stomach, then for good measure, slit her throat. "The price is death." He said as she slumped to the floor.

He never gave her time to scream.

Author's Note

I'm sorry for pulling a George R. R. Martin on you all Iike this, but I had to. Don't worry, I won't kill Rainbow in any other fics. And I DONT SUPPORT THE THUNDERLANE x RAINBOW DASH SHIP!!! NEVER!!! IT CAN BURN IN TARTARUS FOR ALL I CARE!!! :pinkiecrazy:

TwiDash is best ship in my opinion.

And Twilight and Rainbow are best ponies.

A Foal Abandoned, A Foal Found

"What?"

"How can this be?"

"Mr. Sky, do you have any earth pony relatives?"

"No I do not."

"Do you, Mrs. Sky?"

"No."

"Interesting... Very interesting."

"Come with me, honey."

...

"You know what we must do, yes?"

"Yes I do."

"Okay. Then leave her here. The wolves are bound to find her."

"Okay, dear."

"Come on now, honey. Let's go."
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Alright!" Screamed Rainbow Dash as she pulled up from a nose dive. "That coupled with the sonic rainboom will get me into the Wonderbolts for sure!"

"Gbwaaa..."

"What was that?" Rainbow asked as she landed on the ground, suddenly alert.

"Gbwaaa... Mmmmmaaaaammmm..."

"That sounds like a foal. But why would one be here?" Rainbow asked as she looked around. "This is the Everfree border. Who would leave there foal here?"

"Gbwaaa gbwech..."

Hmmm... I'd better check this out... Rainbow thought as she headed towards the source of the noise.

After a few minutes of searching for the foal with no success Rainbow considered all possibilities. Hmmm... I just can't seem to find it. It's no where on the groun-. She froze. A horrible thought popping into her head. Is the foal... Sweet Celestia don't let that be true. Rainbow looked in the tree only to have her worst fears confirmed.

Oh no... In the tree Hugh up on the branches was a ruby red foal with a salmon pink mane and sky blue eyes. Upon looking at Rainbow the foal giggled.

"Mmmmammm..." The foal mumbled.

Rainbow's heart melted at the sight.

"Shhh, little filly." Rainbow said as she picked up the filly in her hooves, her maternal side taking over. "Sleepy time." She smiled down at the foal. "It looks like you need a home, but..." She looked at the foals back. "You're not a Pegasus. I can't take you in." A frown crept onto her face at the thought. So she thought of other possibilities. "But..." She began, a smile growing on her face. "I know somepony else who can." The foal looked up at her and snuggled up close to her chest trying to get warm.

"You cute little thing..." Rainbow remarked.

With a now snoozing foal in her hoovs Rainbow took off towards Ponyville.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Knock, knock.

Who could that be? Twilight Sparkle asked herself as she looked up from her book.

Knock, knock.

"Coming!" Twilight called as she got up from her position in her couch.

"Rainbow?" She asked as her eyes fell on her cyan friend. "What are you- is that a FOAL?!" Twilight half screamed when she looked at the sleeping bundle cradled in Rainbow's hooves.

"Shhhh!" Rainbow hissed quickly glancing down at the little filly, making sure that she was still asleep.

"Oh... Sorry, Rainbow." Twilight said as she realized the foal was napping. "Do you want to come in?" She offered.

Rainbow nodded silently in response.

Twilight poured Rainbow a cup of tea and one for herself. Once the two mares had gotten settled Twilight began her inquiry.

"So... Rainbow. Who's foal is that?"

"Nopony's foal. I found her abandoned in a tree." Rainbow's voice shook with anger as she explained how she found the foal. By the time she had finished Twilight looked aghast. Twilight was no Pegasus but she knew that abandoning a foal in a tree was what the Pegasi did when they left a foal to die.

"That's awful, Rainbow." Twilight looked at the napping foal. "So what do you plan to do with her? I can tell she's really grown on you."

"That's just it... I don't know." Rainbow said.

Twilight looked at her friend in shock. It wasn't that her friend didn't know what to do with the foal. It was that it sounded like her friend was about to cry.

"I... Don't want to give her up, but... I'm a Pegasus. She's not. She can't live with me, but I can't send her to an orphanage. I just can't."

"Rainbow..." Twilight said. "How about this." She took a deep breath, aware that this decision would affect her for the rest of her life. "How about I look after her. I can tell she really means a lot to you."

"You'd to that, Twilight?" Rainbow asked, sounding hopeful.

"Of course!" Twilight giggled. "I know this is more of Rarity's territory, but... She seems like a sweet little thing. And on top of that." She hastily added, catching Rainbow's expression, "It would really help me with parenting. And you can come visit her when ever you want."

To say Rainbow was happy was an understatement. Rainbow squealed in delight, got up and hugged Twilight.

"Ohmigoshohmigosohmigoshthankyouthankyou!!" Rainbow said over and over again.

"You're welcome, Rainbow." Twilight said as she broke free from the hug. "Oh! One other thing!"

"What is it, Twilight?" Rainbow inquired.

"She needs a name." Twilight said as they both looked over at the foal. "You can pick it."

"Heh, thanks Twilight." Rainbow said as she gazed at the foal. "I know this is a Pegasus name, but... I want to call her Ruby Wing."

Twilight smiled at the name. Of course she would go with a Pegasus name... But it somehow fits.

"I think it's a perfect name, Rainbow."

Author's Note

Hi everypony! :pinkiesmile: Thank you for reading this chapter of Ruby Wing: Dawn of a Deity. I hope you enjoyed it! :twilightsmile: