Chapters Pony Buster: A timeless journey
Prologue: The history lesson
"Good Morning Children." Cheerilee addressed her class. "Today, I have a special new lesson for you!"
"Boring." Diamond sighed, as with most of the class, it truly has been a boring week for most of Equestria, even the CMC are tired of going to school and back home.
"What's with the faces everypony? This lesson will definitely be interesting as the dimensional cracks that have appeared last week!" Cheerilee continued, giving a feverish smile. During the last week, there has indeed been these small cracks that started appearing around Ponyville as well as Canterlot. But with some good old pony magic, the Princesses, with the help of Discord, managed to seal them up, causing minimal concern and maximum control over that situation. Even so, the children did return back to their normal lives again.
"Today, I have asked our local Royal Guardspony to help out. Can you say good morning to Mr Sentry?" Cheerilee introduced an Orange Pegasus fully clad in his armor, with a calm but fierce look, carrying a box of textbooks with him. Scootaloo looked up with interest and delight when she saw the orange pegasus.
"Good Morning Mr Sentry!" The children chorused unanimously and monotonically.
"Good Morning to you too Children." Flash bowed "under the orders of the Princess and Miss Cheerilee, I have been assigned to assist in your education for a few days regarding this topic. If you may be so kind..." Flash placed three columns of books on each of the student tables in the front. "Can you three pass each book to the back for your other class mates? Each of you will receive three books each." As the students hurriedly pass the books back. Applebloom was eager to see what they are.
"Today's period of instruction is all about Ancient History." Flash continued, receiving groans from all around.
"Silence!" Flash commanded with a roar before calmly continuing on. "It's not about the ancient history of Equestria however. If you look through these books, you'll see rather unfamiliar names and places. That's because all of you will be learning about the Ancient History of Foreign Countries." 'Ooh's and 'Aah's filled the room instead.
"The red book you received covers the history of Ancient Chineigh. The white book covers Ancient Neighpon and the brown book contains the historical figures of numerous western countries." The students were enlightened as they eagerly flipped through the books. Applebloom was interested in one such figure from Ancient Chineigh, a blonde-maned mare with part of her mane tied into a long swirly ponytail, while her tail was straight like any other pony. Her colour was a tad darker than her mane, but she was wearing all amazing sets of garments and accessories. From furry white cuff-links on her front legs, and stockings that had their own individual design and colour on their back of yellow and green. She wore a peculiar looking hat of yellow with green stripes with a gold medallion, and carries a rather interesting weapon. A spear, but with a curved blade instead of the normal spearhead that the Royal Guard has. Reading more about her, Applebloom learnt the mare's name to be Fan Lihua, a fearsome warrior that is able to win her battles without getting dirty, and has a killing smile. Applebloom kept on admiring this mare until Flash called the class to attention.
"Everypony, we shall begin learning about Ancient Chineigh." Flash spoked "a long time ago..." Applebloom took the job of listening and writing down what Flash had to say, while also thinking about the mare in history named Fan Lihua.
As school was finished and the class was dismissed, the CMC came together to talk about today.
"Man. Class is such a bummer today!" Scootaloo sighed "I thought it would get at least a bit interesting after that History lesson."
"I agree." Sweetie sighed, "you must admit though, for a soldier like Mr Sentry, he does know a lot about foreign history!"
"He must have been hitting the books with Twilight." Scootaloo joked, "what did you think Applebloom?"
"Ah didn't really like it." Applebloom replied,
"Why not?"
"Well, all he ever talked about were the stallion figures and heroes like Liu Bei and Xiang Yu. He never mentioned or talked about the mares, especially Fan Lihua."
"Who?"
"This girl." Applebloom showed her friends the picture of the mare warrior.
"She looks pretty." Sweetie noted,
"How did you get so infatuated towards her?" Scootaloo asked,
"Ah dunno, ah sorta admire her looks, her weapon, it's complicated."
"By the way, I've got to go." Sweetie remembered "Rarity needs me back straight away."
"Oh okay then, guess I split too." Scootaloo replied, "see ya Applebloom!" And the two fillies waved goodbye, leaving Applebloom all alone.
"Ah guess I'll visit the lake before gettin home." Applebloom sighed.
As Applebloom arrived at the lake, she sat on one of the picnic benches close to it and looked up at the cliff towering above it. Remembering the times of how Granny Smith once jumped down the cliff and into the lake, a courageous move.
"Heh, ah wonder how the heroes of the past would feel like, seein how peaceful the world is right now." Applebloom wondered. As she continued looking into the lake, an abnormal sound pricked up the ears of Applebloom.
"That's odd." Applebloom wondered as she heard the sloshing of water, "the current don't look so rough today." Deciding to investigate, she found the source, coming from a small part of the lake being covered by long reeds and grass. Applebloom marched on through as the sound got louder and louder, until Applebloom poked her head out into a small clearing surrounded by tall grass, seeing a pony pouring water all over herself. It didn't take a second for Applebloom to realise what this pony was doing, as she laid eyes on some nearby clothes. It took less than a second for the other pony to notice that somepony was looking and screamed in fright towards the filly's face.
"Oh mah Celestia!" Applebloom jumped as she pushed her head back in and ran out of the small area and called back "Ah'm awfully sorry about that miss! I didn't mean to peek into yer business!" Silence returned her call.
"Seriously, ah heard something was different in the lake, so ah went to investigate. Ah didn't know that ponies like you are able to take a bath in the lake! Ah mean, there are such things as public baths in Ponyville!" Silence was returned again.
"Listen, mah name's Applebloom, and Ah'm completely sorry about peeking at you, it was an accident. May ah know yer name?"
"... Fan Lihua." A stern but calm voice came from the bushes.
"Ah beg yer pardon... Wait... Whut!?" Applebloom gasped as if she thought she had misheard the name. The pony that was bathing stepped out of the area fully dressed, looking at Applebloom. She was an adult mare like Twilight and Cheerilee, but what was really shocking, was her appearance, filling the young filly with great surprise. The mare's mane was blonde in colour with part of her mane tied into a long swirly ponytail, as well a straight tail on her flank. Her body colour was a tad darker than her mane, and was wearing all amazing sets of garments and accessories. Applebloom saw white cuff-links on her front legs, and stockings that had their own individual design and colour on their back of yellow and green. She wore a peculiar looking hat of yellow with green stripes and a gold medallion. The biggest thing however, was that she was armed with a spear that has a curved blade instead of the normal spearhead that the Royal Guard has. It was impossible to believe for Applebloom, but she was standing right in front of her in the flesh, when she should have been deceased for a long time.
"Fan Lihua." The mare repeated her name, her green eyes staring straight into the filly's.
Pony Buster: A timeless journey
Prologue: All is Revealed
One day ago, dimensions away from Equestria, a large futuristic base was under attack by numerous shadows and apparitions, unleashed by chaos and guided by the darkness. There, a purple maned pony dressed like a maid was guiding other ponies towards a portal in order for evacuation. In an area close by, a red-eyed brown maned mare wielded a giant calligraphy brush as her weapon as she led the fight with other heroes against the dark and chaotic enemies. No matter how much they tried, the enemy overwhelmed the heroes with countless numbers.
"Ugh... I can't take it anymore!" The calligrapher winced as she saw most of her allies cut down and engulfed by the forces of darkness. "We can't hold any much longer!"
"I can see that." The maid sighed, "everypony! We must retreat now!" The remainder of the eastern and western heroes nodded and ran quickly for their lives, most however were caught by the shadow forces and were mercilessly annihilated.
"Roya! You need to get out of here too!" The calligrapher called back,
"Not until everypony has got out safely!" The maid known as Roya called back,
"But--"
"No buts Qiuxiang!" Roya replied, "go! Now!" It wasn't before long when one of the dark ponies stood before her, he was armed with two different rifles, tied to his front legs.
"Wait... Aren't you?" Roya spoke. The stallion said nothing but raised one of his legs with the rifle firearm on his leg. The rifle mechanically slid from his leg and onto his hoof and with a click of the trigger, fired a bullet straight through the maid.
"Roya!!!!" Qiuxiang screamed as the maid collapsed before the vicious warlord.
"That's horrible!" Applebloom blurted after Lihua's story. "What happened to Miss Qxia-- Whatever her name was?"
"She forced everypony that made it into the portal, but I don't know what happened to her, or to the rest of the heroes that made it. We got split up and sent alone, even my partner in battle."
"Who's that?"
"Xiang Ying, the only daughter of the Overlord of Western Chu, Xiang Yu." Lihua answered, "she's quite a stubborn mare."
"Mah condolences."
"Don't worry. Although we may be separated, the portal we all went through leads to your world, so I am sure that everypony that made will also be wondering through-- What is this land called again?"
"Equestria."
"A very nice name, and from what I have seen, a very peaceful place. All the more to protect it from Chaos."
"This Chaos you're speaking about..." Applebloom asked, "are you talking about those dimensional cracks?"
"I see you are quickly putting the puzzle pieces together. Yes, the dimensional cracks are what we heroes call Chaos. I'm afraid they're now beginning to attack your world."
"That won't happen," Applebloom comforted "the Princesses and the Royal Guard are busy controlling and sealing them! That's what magic is for!"
"And I'm amazed that they can hold as long as they could. Unfortunately, the power of Chaos is much stronger than they think." As if acknowledging her words, two very loud claps in succession from before echoed through Ponyville, so powerful that it was visible through purple sound waves which shook the air and the ground. As they turned towards Ponyville, the two ponies' hearts sank in despair as a very large crack was, although quite far, pointing directly towards Ponyville.
"Uh oh, that doesn't look good." Applebloom replied,
"It seems that Chaos has tarried long enough and is ready to unleash its soldiers soon." Lihua replied, "I believe it's target will be Ponyville."
The two has finally arrived to the area where Sweet Apple Acres was in view.
"We must split ways now. I need to find my allies quickly in order to seal the large crack."
"Then why don't ah help you find them? If ah can save you, ah can save the others with you!" Applebloom offered,
"I would definitely say no since you are of young age." Lihua objected,
"Ah'm not a kid anymore. Ah've seen and survived against those varmints Chaos sent out. Ah reckon I can help you out, ah'm positive!"
"I know..." Lihua sighed, "this is no easy task and it is life-threatening. If you decide to be involved with fighting Chaos, there's no turning back from here. Think about others you love, your family, your friends, are you still sure you want to do this?" Applebloom thought long and hard, then came with a unexpected response.
"Do you have any friends Miss Lihua?"
"Me? I'm not quite sure..."
"What about yer fightin pardner? And the other heroes?"
"I call them my sisters and brothers, even if we are not of the same blood. We are siblings in arms. We look after each other, fight for each other, protect each other."
"Then isn't that what friends also do too? Mah sister always supported her friends, and one of them's the Princess of Ponyville!"
"I am not familiar with your land's history. But if what you say is true..."
"Ah am honest. Like mah sister is the element of honesty. Ah won't let mah friends down, and what ah've heard about yer burden and what we've been through, ah don't won't let you down either."
"A-Are you saying that...?"
"Yes Miss Lihua." Applebloom determinedly nodded, offering a hoof to shake "ah'd be mighty honoured if you were mah friend as well, and yes, ah do want to help you and yer siblings in arms get back together again."
"... Very well." Lihua nodded, shaking Applebloom's hoof. "Then let me give you this." A large yellow marble ball was placed into Applebloom's extended hoof.
"What's this?" Applebloom asked,
"Remember when I said those enemies from before and I were not real life ponies? We are just souls that are awakened, revived and rejuvenated with our bodies. We have no need of food and drink to survive and we have no limit to how much food or drink we can take. Our souls are linked to soul stones, small indestructible spheres, such as the one I gave you, which is mine. The yellow colour as well as the symbol of the cracked rock symbolises my element type, which is Cave. On the opposite side of the symbol, is my cutie mark." Applebloom turned the stone around to see the image of Lihua's spear weapon, spotless and sparkling. Fan Lihua showed the filly her cutie mark, which matched the cutie mark image on the large marble.
"They look just like large marbles that we sometimes play at school with!" Applebloom noted.
"No no no! These things are very valuable! It's no toy." Lihua gulped "it contains my soul. If it were to fall into the wrong hands, I may turn against you and your people."
"Ouch. Ah'll keep that in mind."
"Anyway, whenever you're in trouble or in danger, you can summon my presence with this stone. All you have to do is raise it to the air, yell my name, with a word or more that is related into calling or summoning me, and I'll be there as quick as the wind. Want to try?"
"Sure!" Applebloom smiled, holding the soul stone in her hoof, she slowly raised it to the air and said, "Fan Lihua, come on out."
"That's too boring. You'll need more emphasis, more action, more tone, more colour."
"Okay okay Ms Judge." Applebloom sighed. This time, Applebloom swung her leg carrying the stone to one side, spun herself around in the other direction, stopped abruptly in a tough looking pose and raised the stone to the sky.
"Fan Lihua! Ah summon yer presence to save the world!" Applebloom chanted boldly and loudly. In response, the stone glowed and gleamed a bright light and the ground shook around her with 5 pillars of rock rising from the ground, surrounding the filly in formation.
"That's more like it!" Lihua approved with a smile. "Don't worry, the rock pillars are just special effects, they won't wreck the environment." Sure enough, the rock pillars faded from view, and the ground seemed unaffected by it.
"Phew! That felt powerful!" Applebloom breathed in relief, "this is amazing!"
"It seems you have much power and potential when harnessing the soul stones, perhaps it was right choosing you."
"Me? Chosen?"
"When you decided to put your life in stake in order to fight with me and what you have done with my soul stone, you have become a pony that has the power to summon heroes. They are known by many names: Pioneer, Hunter, but the main and popular one, is a Hero Buster."
"Ooh!"
"And now, I, Fan Lihua, am a hero that is now under your control and can be summoned by your will." Lihua firmly placed her weapon in front of Applebloom and bowed "I am your servant, and will follow and protect you to where your journey leads."
"Hold yer horses. Ah didn't say you were mah servant."
"No?"
"Maybe ah can summon and guide you anytime you want, but we're of equal importance here. You ain't mah subordinate or slave, yer mah friend, mah pardner, mah sister in arms, and we will find yer partner and yer fellow heroes, and protect Equestria together."
"Very well then, my sister in arms." Lihua corrected,
"You can call me Applebloom like before too." Applebloom added with a smile.
"Okay then." Lihua chuckled "now that that's done, I must take my leave."
"What? Can't you stay over for dinner or something? Or if you don't have a place to sleep, you can stay the night as well!"
"Thanks for your generous offer, but it's best that I keep my presence and identity a secret. But don't worry, I'll always be around Ponyville."
"Okay then..." Applebloom sighed, "see you around."
"Till next time." Lihua nodded and with that, she leapt away into the distance.
"Fan Lihua..." Applebloom thought to herself "and many other heroes from East and West. This sounds pretty bad, but ah think It'll be an adventure!"
Pony Buster: A timeless journey
Yellow Dragon: The Tiger Warrior
"And that is the end of the report Princess." Flash concluded,
"It's hard to take in Flash." Twilight replied "to think that reawakened heroes from foreign lands can be awakened and summoned once again. Even worse, we've got a horde of them against us!"
"Do not fear Princess, there are heroes out there who still fight for good."
"Fan Lihua, so that's her name." Twilight continued "even a character like her is revered as a Powerful hero, I have my doubts that... She could carry the burden of Ponyville let alone Equestria by herself. Besides, she may--"
"She won't." Flash sternly interrupted "she is fully on our side and I am honoured to call her comrade or as she says, a sister-in-arms. As for her allies scattered all over, we can organise search parties."
"Flash, we really are in trouble. Aren't we?" Twilight asked, "are we really... In danger?"
"the tip of the iceberg, the prelude," Flash sighed, "we are at war."
"And that's what I've stated." Flash spoke at a calm meeting with Lihua and Applebloom "Unfortunately Miss Lihua, I had to talk of you, but I made sure that this information is confidential within Ponyville, as we will have to warn the ponies that we are in imminent danger. As for you Applebloom, I omitted your presence entirely."
"Under these circumstances, I believe my presence must be known to the leaders." Lihua nodded in agreement,
"But what I fear the most," Flash continued "is you Miss Applebloom. Sooner or later, ponies will know that you're also responsible, as you are the one who has the 'bond' to Miss Lihua, which is the reason why she won't be defecting anytime soon, also adding to the fact you are protecting us by your own will."
"That much is correct." Lihua nodded again,
"Can you remember your allies that made it out Miss Lihua? Their names and what they look like?" Flash asked,
"Xiang Ying, the daughter of Xiang Yu and my closest sister-in-arms. Tachibana Ginchiyo, the head of her family clan and a brilliant musketeer and shooter. And Date Masamune, the outstanding tactician and katana practitioner, also known as the 'One-eyed dragon'."
"Yeow! His eye was cut off!?" Applebloom cringed in horror,
"Actually, it was the disease of smallpox that robbed his eye." Flash corrected, "it was much serious back then because their methods of curing such disease is rather... Complex. Eventually, it became a big hindrance so of course it was gouged out."
"Hurk..." Applebloom replied, holding her mind and stomach in place
"I've done all I can Miss Lihua and Miss Applebloom." Flash stood up "if the cat happens to get out of the bag, I will speak in your favour, because I trust you and all you've stated, and that you have proven with your actions. But now comes a large struggle."
"What is it?" Applebloom asked,
"We may have defended Ponyville from invasion, but that doesn't mean Chaos will give up. I am absolutely sure that they will strike once more, and not a full front attack like before. The two of you WILL be required to fight them,"
"We understand." Applebloom and Lihua said in unison.
"That's good to know, but if we were ever to succeed, two conditions must be met."
"It's not anything bad... Is it?" Applebloom asked,
"That depends" Flash continued "Miss Applebloom, you will have to be trained to defend yourself. You're lucky your school work will be postponed this week because of the current affair. That will give you time to train."
"Well that's okay!" Applebloom grinned "I've always wanted to learn how to fight."
"It's not pleasant if you actually think about it." Flash replied, "fighting is only for your own defence. Lihua, I want you to train her."
"Me?"
"You may be under Miss Applebloom's influence, but that doesn't mean you can not assist her. I thought the best teacher for her would be you."
"You flatter me." Lihua replied,
"And the second?" Applebloom asked,
"I know it seems selfish of me to ask Miss Lihua this proposition but... Would you also take me as your student as well?"
"I beg your pardon?" Lihua asked with a confused look,
"Oh... Ah remember. You see, Mister Sentry actually has some admiration towards you. He told me that if you were alive, that he'd want to learn your Spear techniques."
"My... Apologies." Flash replied, although keeping a straight face, his cheeks turned red.
"Well well well..." Lihua chuckled, "now I truly am flattered." She walked closer to Flash "Do both of you have what it takes?"
"Yes..." Flash and Applebloom spoke once together, then looked at each other, nodded and finished off with "...Fan lǎoshī." Causing Lihua to burst into laughter.
"Both your Manedarin are terrible." Lihua blurted, still laughing. Taking 5 minutes to calm down, Lihua went back to her serious self. "Right, let's get down to business."
Applebloom felt her muscles ache and cramp as she hobbled along the path to her CMC clubhouse. She and Flash stood in many poses and breathing exercises for too long.
"Makes me think that washin' chariots and carts are pushovers compared to stances." Applebloom mumbled to herself. After the scuffle, it was clear to say the town was safe and the lockdown was lifted. Ponies were now able to walk freely in the town, so Applebloom knew her friends would be there.
"Howdy y'all!" Applebloom greeted as she entered the house, to see two frowning faces from her friends.
"You seem rather energetic for one who has been locked up in the house all day." Scootaloo replied,
"well why not? The town's safe once again!" Applebloom reasoned, "ah'd rather kept safe at home rather than out and having the chance to let those... Whatever they are, have us for dinner!"
"That's not the point Applebloom." Sweetie replied "what we're saying is, were you really stuck inside all day?"
"Of course! That's what the lockdown is for, remember?"
"Yeah, I'm not buying it." Sweetie continued, "When I was shut inside, minding my own business, I spotted this yellow mare, dashing quite fast from where Sweet Apple Acres is to the castle."
"Err... That must be somepony else!" Applebloom diverted "If yer trying to imply that it was me, ah don't have that skill."
"You certainly don't." Scootaloo spoke "and we agree. I also saw the same thing, a pony dashing towards the castle. What we saw but don't quite understand, was that somepony was clinging on to her back."
"You Applebloom, we could recognise your mane anywhere, even if you were just a blur." Sweetie Belle finished,
"Umm..." Applebloom muttered, feeling stiff and frozen with fear. "Yeah... Ah didn't stay inside."
"Why?" Scootaloo asked, an icy glare in her eyes "tell me, what does this mare have to do with you? Why were you allowed to go out when we were all shut in?"
"Because it's her responsibility to resolve the situation that caused the lockdown" a voice boomed from behind. The CMC turned to see Flash Sentry standing at the foot of their treehouse entrance.
"Flash? How did you find me- I mean us?" Applebloom jumped in shock,
"I asked your sister, Lady Applejack." Flash replied, "do you mind if I come in?" With a nod from the three, Flash flew into the house
"that easy?" Sweetie replied, "I know you're Ponyville's lieutenant, but I'm not sure Applejack would be so safe to tell you where we are."
"My situation is... Concerning." Flash replied, Scootaloo swallowed and spoke,
"When you said 'her responsibility', what did you mean?"
"I am afraid that is classified to the royal Ponyville individuals and Applebloom is an anonymous exception. I can't discuss this any further. I hope you understand."
"I can tell you something though." Applebloom added "do you remember the marble I showed both of you?" She pulled out the soul stone of Fan Lihua from her pouch once again and showed them. "The mysterious mare you saw with me? She's with me."
"Applebloom..." Flash warned,
"That's all ah can say, ah ain't breachin' anymore codes. I hope you girls can understand. We're still friends, okay?" The two fillies remained silent as they stared at their Earth Pony friend with a lost expression.
"Listen, if we ever get to help you" Scootaloo started, "don't hesitate to call."
"We may not fight." Sweetie replied "but we can do something, we must!"
"Perhaps." Flash replied, "I understand your concerns about Miss Applebloom, but it may be a hindrance if you don't have a hero that would travel with you."
"No, please!" Sweetie pleaded, "I'll do anything! Bring along supplies, anything!"
"Sweetie." Scootaloo placed a hoof on her soldier. "If Mr Sentry says no, then he means no."
"I will promise you however." Flash added as he offered a hoof "that I will extend my limits to protect Applebloom, for her and for you."
"Flash..." Applebloom sighed. Scootaloo boldly trotted forward and grabbed his hoof hard with her own.
"You'd better not break it. Or I'll never forgive you" Scootaloo replied, grasping hard.
"Understood" Flash nodded, then turned to Sweetie "and you?"
"Promise." Sweetie also nodded, grasping his hoof.
"Ah'll make sure to keep in touch," Applebloom replied and with Flash, trotted away.
"Do you think they'll be alright?" Sweetie asked as they saw the two walk towards the horizon.
"They will." Scootaloo nodded "our best friend's tough. She'll pull through, and I'm definitely sure about Ponyville's lieutenant." She closed her eyes in assurance "he's worked hard for his position... And he's loyal and caring..."
"Miss Applebloom, I'm afraid to say your power will be needed again." Flash briefed, "there has been reports to say that a few unknown ponies have been circling Ponyville indirectly. By that, I mean they are hiding in the neighbouring forests, including the Everfree."
"They're plannin to ambush and surround us." Applebloom guessed,
"Do not fear, they are currently mobilising and will not fully get in position until tomorrow." Flash continued, "I still have my doubts however..."
"About what?"
"I may look cold and uncaring, but I don't want to risk your friends losing you. It will bring grief not just to them but to Lady Applejack as well."
"You care a lot Mister Sentry. Yer a really good guard." Applebloom replied,
"Just doing my job." Flash replied, "you've done well today, get a good night's sleep, you and Miss Lihua, wherever she went. We'll all need one for tomorrow."
"Goodnight Applebloom." Applejack replied as she turned off the light. "Sorry about this morning. It's all good now."
"It's okay sis. Goodnight." Applebloom replied. As Applejack turned to close the door, she noticed that the light coming from the holes of the window, was shining on something very peculiar.
"Whut the hay?" Applejack mentioned to herself as she closed the door, noting that where the moon shone, a few planks were on the floor, neatly cut in half.
It was now Tuesday, and Applebloom secretly met up with Flash Sentry to understand what's going on.
"We've decided to upholster the town's defences." Flash briefed "so no Royal Guards will be travelling with us. Just me and you."
"Understood."
"I hope you remember your training." Flash replied "because things will get ugly, and you'll be a part of it."
"Wait... No weapons for me?" Applebloom asked,
"Don't you remember?" Flash replied "you've got a weapon of your own!" And pointed at Applebloom's pouch of stones.
"Ohh... Ah still wanna wield one!"
"Negative, too dangerous." Flash replied "however, it seems that some of our enemies have dropped their weapons during that last battle. Perhaps I can change some of my weapons. Also, I've also got with me the bag of potions, or pots for short, from yesterday. I had to give some of these tonics to the research department, they found it... Interesting. Using so little ingredients to make something very strong. Whoever made this came from must have a lot of knowledge when it comes to Potion brewing. Regardless, we can make ample amounts of this too."
"Not enough time to go all analytical now." Applebloom sighed as she pulled out Lihua's soul stone. Doing her 'summoning routine' she yelled to the skies.
"Fan Lihua! Ah summon your presence to save the world!" Like before, the stone glowed and gleamed, the earth shook, 5 pillars rose from the ground in the formation like the vertices of a pentagon and from the skies, a familiar figure came into view from high in the air and landed neatly on the ground without kicking up any dust.
"I am here. Now face my spear!" The mare stood up straight and firmly stamped her weapon on the floor.
"Nice entrance Miss Lihua." Flash applauded without emotion "You can also rhyme too."
"I aim to please." Lihua replied, "has Chaos made its move?"
"An ambush through via the woods, each of the four platoons in each of the four neighbouring forests. The Everfree forest seems to house the commander, as it has the most enemy units.
"Did you scout the commander?" Lihua asked,
"A male earth pony, spear user, wearing boots on his hind legs and some pants. He is wearing a helmet however, and it horrifies me to see this: The skin of a leopard's head."
"Eww... He killed and used the head of a leopard!?" Applebloom gulped, trying not to throw up.
"Then that must be Lin Chong." Fan Lihua replied, "he's known as the Tiger Warrior. Silent, but deadly"
"Fits the name" Flash replied,
"Oohh... Killing an animal and using it for its clothes..." Applebloom shivered "who would do such a thing?"
"Just so you know," Lihua added, "the fur with my armour and clothes? They belonged to the most dangerous wolves and killed and skinned by yours truly." This shut both ponies up as they stared in horror at the mare before them.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Lihua asked, showing her killer smile "let's stab some enemies!"
The group scurried to the first forest and found an unpleasant sight. Familiar enemy soldiers were patrolling the area again. Only this time, most of the ponies and creatures they saw were green in colour or wearing green tunics. Fan Lihua took a deep breath.
"Somethin' wrong?" Applebloom asked,
"M-Me? No! Not at all." Lihua replied,
"We can all tell, that deep breath means you've got something troubling you." Flash replied,
"Remember how you found out that Fire was weak to Water?" Lihua replied,
"Yeah?"
"Well, each revived hero and creature all have a elemental type to them. Fire, Tree, Cave, Wind, Nova and Aqua. Like the elements itself, each hero has a strength and weakness against certain elements."
"You told me yer a hero of the Cave element." Applebloom replied, then looked to the enemies, "so that means..."
"The order that I have set the elements are in a way where an element is stronger than the one after it but weaker than the one before it."
"And the Tree element is before the Cave element." Flash replied,
"... I'll make sure to be careful during these fights." Lihua replied, fear dripping down her face. "It's not that I stay clear of fighting against enemies of the Tree Element. Times when I do have to fight them, I fight them with my partner. She's a fire type hero, and she can defeat them easily."
"So Xiang Ying's a Fire hero?" Flash mused "Let's hope for the best that she would show up"
"Silence..." Flash signalled, "enemy at 12 o' clock."
"Ah see 'em wide an clear." Applebloom replied, "let's waste em."
"Can you really with those numbers?" A soft but familiar voice came from behind. The group turned around to scream at the presence of Bu Lianshi but she manage to quickly signal them to keep quiet.
"What are you doing here!?" Applebloom rasped as quiet as she could, "I thought you were gone for good!"
"Remember that I am a hero like Lihua." Lianshi replied, "if a Hero Buster defeats a hero and acquires his/her soul stone, the hero will regenerate after a few hours. After all, you have my Soul stone as well as the Princess'."
"Whoever controls the hero" Lihua added "the hero will follow the Pioneer's choices, ideals, values and commands. Simply put, a reflection of the heart"
"However Applebloom, your ideals for Heroes under your control is to allow them to act freely under the rules and laws of this world as you do, and not just used for fighting. You don't treat us as a subordinate or slave, but as a compadre. I think you call them..." Lianshi continued,
"Friends." Applebloom replied,
"Well, since you freed both me and milady from the control of Chaos and returning both our consciences and free will. We owe you plenty, that and the Princess asks of me to assist you for this journey."
"Wouldn't she get swamped by the other ponies back home?" Flash asked,
"No need to worry, she is in co-operation with your Princess." Lianshi replied, "she's rather feisty though..."
"What is this madness!?!?" Shangxiang yelled, "what do you mean you can't fix the Purple Blue!?"
"I'm just saying, we don't have that advanced technology yet." Twilight reasoned, "If you'd like, I can research the weapon for you, perhaps we can find an alternative. I mean, it wasn't that hard to make the potions from before."
"Arrgh!!!" Shangxiang yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Ah think we're goin' to need backup to round her down." Applejack gulped,
"They'll be fine." Lianshi replied, "I-I'm sure of it."
"Thanks for your Assistance Miss Lianshi. Your type advantage will really help a lot. It is great to have both you and Miss Shangxiang on our side."
"No problem." Lianshi winked, "after all, It should be me who's thanking you three."
Like yesterday, the now decreased force ploughed through their unknowing trip thanks to the help of Bu Liangshi. Firing ever so accurately, every Forest axemare, small tree-cat and even the two Brawny platoon leaders were no match for the small platoon.
"This is what you get for facing a hero!" Lianshi taunted,
"I believe you have done most of the work here." Flash replied, "poor Miss Lihua still looks rather grim."
"I-It's fine." Lihua shuddered "I've been through this before."
"Just to let you know, I'm trying not to be Xiang Ying's replacement, but am I doing well to your standards?" Lianshi asked,
"You've been protecting me from the Tree enemies, just like how Xiang Ying has been doing. You're doing great. Thanks." Lihua replied,
"Heads up everypony, the second forest is inbound." Flash warned, "use extreme caution and do not alert them. We're going to make them taste their own medicine of stealth attacks."
"Yes sir!" Came the response of the three mares. Sneaking through the dangerous path of the second forest. They came across a mare with a bamboo hat and levitating a wooden staff.
"She looks like the only one from this platoon." Lihua replied, "she's definitely the one."
"That, and another of those Brawnies." Flash replied, "first off, lets kick these Purings, Cats, Axemares and Archers out, two by two. Lianshi, you may start the initiative."
"Roger." Lianshi replied and with a true aim, struck the nearby puring down.
"Now!" Lihua signalled and the four ponies charged out. Easily taking each down two by two, it they managed to get towards the platoon commanders.
"The mare is a Wood Pharmacist. She has the ability to heal those who are injured." Lihua analysed,
"Then that means we knock her out first!" Applebloom replied,
"Not quite so" Flash replied, "can she heal those who are already dea-I mean defeated?"
"Good point, let's take out the archer first." Applebloom decided, Lianshi stared once again by rapidly firing against the archer and giving enough time for Lihua to deal a finishing blow.
"Next, we take out the Pharmacist." Flash replied. Teaming up with Lihua, they both swung their spears and lunged forward in perfect synchronisation. This led to disarming and defeating the enemy pharmacist.
"You match my moves almost correctly." Lihua noted, "you really are a quick learner Flash."
"I aim to please shifu" Flash replied, "but we've still got one more enemy."
"You're not pleasing me with your awful Manedarin." Lihua sighed, "but yes, we have the Brawny left to deal with."
"You should rest Lihua. Why don't I partner up with you soldier foal?" Lianshi advised,
"Sure thing." Flash replied. With a sudden movement, Lianshi quickly fired 5 arrows landing perfectly around the Brawny's chest, followed with a tough spear throw by Flash piercing the enemy's flesh and heart. Knowing that it would seal the deal, the Brawny collapsed and vanished into thin air.
"Not bad Flash, not bad." Lianshi replied,
"I still feel queasy when I take ponies' lives." Flash replied as he recovered his spear.
"It's still not over though. 2 platoon are remaining, and you know who they house." Lihua added,
"Looks like the real battle begins." Applebloom noted, "let's hurry to the third forest." As the 4 took off, a pony watched from a tall tree. Looking at them with great interest.
"Well well, it seems you've been busy Fan Lihua." The pony whispered to herself "looks like it's my turn." Equipping the weapon from her back, an extremely oversized axe in the form of a large blade from an X-acto knife, the pony pursued the group from the shadows.
"..." Lihua shuddered,
"Somethin wrong Miss Lihua???" Applebloom asked,
"I'm beginning to feel a familiar spirit around here." Lihua answered "I feel like somepony is tailing us..."
"Now that you mention it," Lianshi picked up "something's amiss with the wind."
"Stay low" Flash signalled, as the team continued creeping around the enemy lines, they noted a small alcove with a large tarp dyed with the colours of a tiger.
"Fan Lihua, is that what I think it is?" Lianshi gestured,
"Yes, we have come to the 'Tiger Cottage'. That tarp is easily recognisable."
"The Tiger Cottage?" Flash asked,
"This is a tarp used especially by the hero Sun Erniang. Wherever she puts up the tarp, she calls the area surrounding it 'Tiger Cottage'."
"Who's this Erniang lady by the way?" Applebloom asked,
"She's another fictional character in one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese Literature." Flash explained, "but let me warn you that she is very, very deadly."
"How so?" Applebloom gulped,
"She's a tender mare that runs a restaurant with her husband, and whenever travellers come to dine, she drugs their food and drinks. These victims are then killed and robbed of their possessions."
"What!?" Applebloom jumped, "that's horrible! She shouldn't even be called a hero!"
"Yes, her acts are immoral and cruel. She is also the one who does the killing and slaughtering. Tender AND cruel, she's quite a deadly butcher, even to the fact that she would actually make steam buns with the fillings of pony flesh straight from the poor victims to serve other customers, acknowledging that the fact of cannibalism or the idea of eating meat is a atrocious crime."
"Urk..." Applebloom held her mouth, trying not to throw up "I feel sick..."
"I wouldn't want her serving me food." Lihua chuckled "however, she also has been employed to help fight in certain campaigns and was honoured for her duty. She may be cruel in the beginning, but from her duties of war till her death, she was recognized as a hero and an expert Martial Artist."
"Won't make me think any better of her..." Applebloom replied, until a sound of pain echoed from the forest. The group turned to hear this mysterious interruption of silence.
"Somepony's attacking." Flash replied, "it's coming from where the enemy guard has been placed."
"Oh no..." Applebloom jumped as the screaming continued echoing towards their direction. "Did somepony stumble here by accident?"
"Can't be" Lianshi countered, "the two Princesses and the guards have made sure no one leaves Ponyville. I doubt nopony has the mind to get themselves killed."
"Then could it be the enemy?" Lihua asked,
"What in the hay is happening!!!" A loud voice boomed from underneath the hanging tarp. "Backup the guards you lot!!!" Without another second, groups of ponies and monsters swarmed out of the tarp and towards the source of the screaming.
"It looks like Lihua may be correct." Flash noted as the heroes ducked down back into the bushes. "The enemies seem to be taking a beating."
"But who would be powerful enough to take on a horde of enemies?" Applebloom asked,
"... I hear you." The voice from inside the tarp echoed once again. "Why don't you come out and show yourselves?"
"Oh lords!" Lianshi ducked even deeper, "have we been spotted?"
"I said, come out!" The voice repeated, and a large shiny object flew out of the tent and brutally stuck itself on a tree, just a few centimetres above Flash. As the soldier looked up, he made it out on what this mysterious object was.
"Yes." Flash replied as he timidly removed a large shiny cleaver above his head. "And she really wants us to come out."
As the 4 ponies stepped into the clearing around the tent, a pony, wearing green garments tied together with a red and white sash that it looks like an apron as well as having with a very complicated manestyle tied together with two large golden hairpins, stepped out it with a clump of cleavers similar to the one Flash held in her mouth.
"I believe you dropped this." Flash replied, placing the cleaver at her feet and quickly stepping back.
"Ptoi!" The mare spat the cleavers to the floor which they neatly pierce the grounds surface. "So you're the ones who've been causing trouble for my stallions."
"Actually, we've been going around them." Lihua corrected,
"Silence!" The mare snapped back, "regardless, the commotion is disrupting my cooking! No one dares to do that, I'll butcher anypony who stands in my way!"
"Very well then Sun Erniang!" Lianshi raised her crossbow. "Do your worst!"
"Hah! You're too close to fire on me!" Erniang laughed as she tossed one of her cleavers at great speed, knocking Lianshi off-guard and slicing her face.
"Argh!" Lianshi reeled as she fell to the ground,
"Miss Lianshi!" Flash jumped to alarm and flew towards the butcher mare and attempted to strike her down.
"Ooh" Erniang smiled as she blocked the lunge of Flash's spear. "You've got exceptional skill for a western hero."
"I'm no hero" Flash replied, "I'm just an everyday Royal Guard doing my duty, but my duty is to protect the inhabitants of Ponyville. I will protect them, with my life and spear. Especially from you!"
"Hah! Well I hope you get insurance for that!" Erniang laughed as she pushed him back and used her cleaver to slice the spear in two.
"No!" Flash gasped at his broken weapon with horror. Erniang used this distraction to tackle and knock Flash Sentry out of commission.
"Your will in your spear has broken." Erniang taunted "and so will your life!"
"Stop!" Applebloom yelled and she used all her mind to shove Erniang away from Flash.
"Huh." Erniang propped herself back up. "You've got a lot of nerve little filly. You've distracted my two kills, but gutting you is going to be easy."
"Ah won't let you turn them into food!" Applebloom replied,
"Hah hah hah!" Erniang laughed evilly "they're better off as food than soldiers! And..." She sniffed the scent of Applebloom "you'll be too!"
"You would dare take the life of foals and fillies and use their flesh for your atrocious meals of crime!?" Lihua rebuked,
"I don't give a damn Lihua!" Erniang replied, "anyone who crosses by me will be marked for death!" And with a response, she threw a cleaver straight towards Applebloom. As Applebloom saw this movement, she became immobilised with fear as the cleaver started flying towards her head.
"Applebloom! Move!" Lihua cried in desperation as she galloped as hard as she could to block the cleaver, but the cleaver continued speeding towards the aghast Applebloom as it continued spinning closer and closer towards her face.
"No!!!" Lihua yelled as a cracking sound echoed through the area. She fell to the ground in shame and sadness and lowered her head to the ground in pain. "I'm so sorry *sniff* that I couldn't help you... It was supposed to be my job, my duty!" Lihua continued blabbering and blubbering until she noticed something strange, the sight of small yellow and red sparks fell to the floor puts her into a confused state.
"Ugh..." Lianshi frustratingly picked herself up and held her face to prevent any more blood loss.
"Gah..." Flash picked his aching body up until he can muster up the strength to look towards Applebloom in horror. "Wh-What in Tartarus!?"
"No way..." Lihua gasped, "she really is..." Following the spark's trail, it led her eyes to see a cleaver frozen in mid-air instead of protruding from Applebloom's face.
"How... How is that possible!?" Flash added. The cleaver seemed to have stuck itself onto some invisible force field, where a small area around the cleaver made that force field visible. A force field that consistently transitions it's colour between yellow and red and small sparks of these colours of energy continuously flew from where the cleaver made contact and to the ground.
"Damn it!" Erniang yelled in frustration. "It can't be!"
"Ah... Ah won't die." Applebloom whispered softly though everypony could hear. "Ah promised that ah won't die, and that ah would save Equestria." She grasped the handle of the cleaver and pulled it out from the force field in one go. Pointing it at her adversary, she menacingly glared at Erniang.
"Because ah am a Pioneer, and ah'm usin' this power to protect the ones ah love!" Applebloom yelled,
"Gah..." Erniang stepped back in fear. "A young little filly punk life you? A Hunter!?!?"
"How did she...?" Flash spoke softly,
"It's because of us." Lianshi carefully trotted over to Flash, though in great pain, continued her usual tone "our Soul Stones. Whenever a Hunter has possession of them, the Heroes under his or her control will link their souls to his or her power and devote their lives to protecting them from harm, and that's also in the literal sense. The force field that protected Applebloom is called a Soul Shield, because Lihua and I are out fighting side by side with her, our stones also act as a shield for her."
"I... I see..." Flash took it all in "so the colours of Red and Yellow. Those are yours and Miss Lihua's element respectively." He stared at the cleaver-wielding Applebloom "A Pony that can summon and use Heroes of the East and West, as well as using them to be their shield, sword and so much more... This is the power of a Hero Buster, and Miss Applebloom is one of them."
"You don't threaten me little punk!" Erniang roared, "I'll break that Soul Shield of yours!" And with a wild charge, the Butcher swung madly at her opponent, but the little filly was nimble and determined and made sure that the cleavers swung at air.
"Like I said, the Soul Shield is made by our Soul Stones, so we are connected to that shield. Every time the shield receives collision, it will pass off that damage to the heroes that are active with her." As a frightening example, Erniang managed to strike the Soul Shield whilst she was aiming for a leg of Applebloom, and as the cracking sound can be heard once more, Lianshi felt pain.
"Argh..." Lianshi growled as the wound on her face started releasing even more blue motes of light. Flash immediately took her in his arms.
"You need help fast." Flash replied as he grabbed a potion and held it to her lips. "Can they be also applied to your wounds?"
"Yeah..." Lianshi replied as she felt the embrace of the orange pegasus as she ingested the red fluid.
"Okay then, show me the wound, I'm going to apply it now." Flash warned, as he turned to Lihua, the spear wielding mare was also feeling faint as she continued watching the fight.
"Ahh..." Lianshi twitched in pain as the red fluid touched her facial wound, though she still held still.
"Okay, I'm rubbing it now." Flash replied as he applied the constant pressure from his hoof.
"...So smooth... So kind... Even in battle." Lianshi whispered to herself with a relaxed smile as she felt the hoof of the orange pegasi as well as the pain burning away.
"Enough!" Erniang yelled at Applebloom, "I'm going to rip you apart!"
"No you won't!" Another voice replied, and a shadow jumped between the filly and the butcher. "You're going to be ripped apart!"
"Wha?" Applebloom jumped,
"Oh lords!!! You!?" Erniang yelled,
"No way..." Lihua's eyes widened in realisation "... You're still here..."
"Alive and in the flesh!" The mysterious girl replied, and pulled out her weapon with one hoof,
"It really is you!" Lihua smiled with joy as she laid eyes on the large X-acto blade-axe "my sister!"
"Her sister???" Flash replied as he let go of Lianshi, "so this is the daughter of Xiang Yu..." He inspected the newcomer from top to bottom. The mane was dark orange in colour and was long enough to be tied into two identical long spiral strands. With that, she wore a black Alice Band with white spiky frills at the top, a small mask of a tiger and a red dress which although normally frilled at the bottom and spike frilled on the sleeves for the front legs, it was tailored for war.
"Hey kid," The newcomer called without letting her eyes leave the enemy's. "Leave this one to me. Why don't you go get the Tiger Warrior? I've heard he's attempting to make a counterstrike at this location. You might want to do something about that."
"O-Okay, thanks for saving me!" Applebloom complied,
"Save it for when we finish the fight." Came the reply. Without a word, Applebloom stood up to her feet and galloped to Lihua's side. Lianshi and Flash joined up with them a few seconds later and they were galloping off towards the Everfree forest.
"You!" Erniang yelled, "you denied me my kills!"
"I know." The newcomer replied, "now you've got me!" And the two mares began clashing blades.
"Are you feeling any better Miss Lianshi?" Flash asked,
"Yes I am." Lianshi replied with her usual tone "thank you for your assistance"
"At least you're still alive." Flash replied as he examined his spear, torn in two, "lives are much more valuable than a weapon."
"I'm sorry Flash," Lihua apologised "how you and your weapon have been through thick and thin, I would feel the same if my Pear Blade would be lost."
"That much is true, but it is still just a normal spear, standard issue. Unlike both of your weapons, they were made especially for you, and if I heard, you even gave it a name. The Pear Blade, you called it?"
"Yes" Lihua nodded,
"Mine is called the Bulian Bow." Lianshi replied, "similar to my name,"
"I may not brood so much about weapons." Flash sighed, "but I need to find a new weapon fast, I don't mind using my hooves though."
"Heroes that use their bodies as their main weapon are way out of your league." Lianshi warned, "I think you'd be best off getting a new weapon of your proficiency. How about this?" And showed him a Copper Spear,
"Oh" Flash examined it, "looks really nice" and gave it a few practice lunges "a bit heavy, but It should make up for durability and power right?"
"I know nothing can replace your original spear, but I hope this would do. It may not be as powerful as a hero's weapon, but it has a higher chance of survival against one."
"It would take a few minutes to get accustomed to the weight, but I'll eventually come to it, thank you."
"We could always get that old spear repaired" Applebloom suggested,
"Or maybe you can use a hero's, if you're lucky." Lianshi replied, "we'll be approaching the Everfree forest soon."
The party managed to reach the entrance without any interference from enemies, and without any word, continued on traversing the dirt path. It wasn't long until they see a lone figure standing in their way.
"Excuse me..." Flash replied, "we are trying to find a stallion known as Lin Chong. If you intend to stand in our way of finding him, there is no chance of driving us away."
"..." The figure stayed silent
"I see..." Flash replied "so you are one of his soldiers. I admire your courage of getting in the way of our main target"
"... I am your main target." The figure grunted, and stepped closer to make himself visible to his opponents. A muscular looking stallion pointed his spear at the group, his eyes and mane shielded with what looks like the head of a leopard.
"The leopard cap... Lin Chong" Lihua stated,
"... You've gotten this far, preventing our ambush invasion... You must be powerful ponies indeed." Spinning his spear, he put himself to a battle ready stance. "Killing you will be very satisfying!" With a fearsome roar, he lunged at the group, clashing first with Lihua.
"Impressive..." Chong replied as he collided blades, "have you perhaps grown stronger?"
"Even if I have the power to take down Chaos with my own hands," Lihua replied, "I will keep on fighting!"
"I believe we should fall back." Lianshi advised, "I will cover from afar." Hopping to a sturdy branch on a nearby tree, she starts aiming down on the Tiger Warrior as the two furiously traded blows.
"It will take more than just an arrow diversion to take me down!" Chong taunted as could not only fend off Lihua's Pear Blade, but also neatly dodged the arrow.
"The Tiger Warrior..." Flash watched from afar "he really does live up to that name. His skill is ferocious."
"He's movin' and fightin' like that tiger from the Daring Do novel!" Applebloom watched,
"I need to help someway." Flash replied, grasping the Copper Spear,
"Don't even think about it" Lianshi called, "like you said, his skill is ferocious. I'd rather risk the life of a hero rather than the life of a real pony."
"But..." Flash tried to object,
"Mister Flash." Applebloom placed a hoof on Flash "remember yer promise to Scootaloo and Sweetie? That you'd protect me?"
"But..."
"Ah know you wanna take the enemy down yerself in order to protect yer friends and me, but ah don't accept that. Ah want you to stay alive."
"... Fine" Flash concluded,
"I've made a promise too." Lihua replied, as she pushed away Chong to breathe "that I would protect you too Applebloom, and that also means protecting Ponyville from Chaos!"
"Ditto" Lianshi replied, "and milady would say the same thing. Before being controlled by Chaos, we all promised to defeat it."
"Give me a break." Chong replied as he stepped back to breathe too "this sappy story of promises and bonds are sickening. You are wasting time for my master!"
"The real Chong I know serves no pony!" Lihua replied,
"Chaos has given me much benefit and power in return for my services." Chong replied with a murderous smile, "besides, he'll let me kill as much as I want. How can I but refuse?"
"You'll be causing grief to another country at your satisfaction!" Lianshi replied infuriated and fired a shot, hitting him directly in the shoulder. Chong grunted in pain
"You caught 'im off guard!" Applebloom called,
"Then I'll finish him now! Yargh!" Lihua yelled as she drove her spear through his body.
"Heh heh heh..." Chong coughed "you think a mere stab could finish me off?"
"Dang it... I was careless..." Lihua cursed under her breath.
"And you know what happens after that right?" Chong continues, "this!" and furiously lunged his spear. The group could all but watch in horror, shock and pain as the spear of Chong impaled the mare's neck.
"Fan Lihua!!!" Applebloom yelled in loss, Flash held her back in haste as they continued to see Lin Chong brutally remove Lihua from his spear and tossed her to the floor.
"It's okay..." Lihua coughed with a calming smile as she starts to glow blue and sparkling blue dust came out from her body like everypony else who was a hero. "I'll be okay... Lianshi will take care of you... Please, run..."
"Miss Lihua..." Flash grumbled in sadness as the mare faded into bright blue dust and shrunk in size until there was nothing left. Applebloom reached into her pouch with trembling hooves and pulled out Lihua's soul stone, which's glowing aura was fading in intensity and that the original colour of the Soul Stone became dull and cold.
"The power... Her power..." Applebloom spoke with a sad tear "ah can't feel it anymore..." Without remorse, the Tiger Warrior scoured the area where Lihua had died, in attempts to find something. After some frustrating paws on the ground, he looked up to the young filly and spotted the dull Soul Stone in her hand. Flash stepped forward in defence.
"I see..." Chong started "so this is Chaos' sole irritant from conquering this world..."
"You dare call Miss Applebloom an irritant!?" Flash yelled,
"A young child, one that has the same control of heroes like Chaos. You however, lack the superiority and authority over us."
"What in the hay is that supposed to mean?" Applebloom replied,
"You treat the heroes like your own. Share experiences together through good or bad, motivate and cheer for when your hero fights, cry and mourn when your hero dies, you fail to understand that heroes like us are tools meant for battle in our days of life."
"... Miss Lianshi, take care of Applebloom." Flash commanded,
"Flash?" Applebloom asked,
"He has just pulled the last straw." Flash lifted his head in fury "no matter how much a hero goes through, they have done so much for their country and for the ones they love, they are to be treated with respect and care."
"Why do you value the life of a hero?" Chong asked, "even if we die, we can be revived and re-summoned!"
"They still feel pain!" Flash retorted, "The cost of everlasting revival comes with being pulled by a leash. When every hero was alive, they had the freedom to act under their own will. Now, they go against their own will and are enslaved by the likes of your 'master'. Of all ponies, you should know that!"
"How you bombard me with your moral outrage" Chong laughed "why don't you ask the heroes on your side?"
"Miss Applebloom may have the soul stones of Miss Lihua, Miss Lianshi and Miss Shangxiang in her possession, but she doesn't treat them as weapons, she treats each and everyone of them like a normal pony, an ally, a friend."
"Compassion..." Chong spat "how sickening and weak"
"you are clearly out of your mind. You speak with the tongue of Chaos" Flash rebuked once more "but I'll put an end to that!" and with a large yell, he ferociously roared as he buckled the Copper Spear with Chong's.
"Hah!" Chong gasped as he blocked and deflected every aggressive blow Flash deals out "you are pretty strong for a mere guard, but I can recognise those moves anywhere. Fan Lihua must have taught you well."
"Grr..." Flash growled as he continued on attacking relentlessly,
"Hey! Don't lose your head!" Lianshi called out "that's not how you defeated me before!"
"I can read you like a book!" Chong smiled as he quickly evaded one of Flash's lunge,
"Damn it!" Flash cursed as he swatted the air, the Tiger Warrior then took the chance to zip behind him and deliver a dangerous swing and leaving a long gash on his side.
"Heh, you prove to be a much bigger challenge than Fan Lihua." Chong replied as he breathed heavily due to exhaustion "Even you've managed to deliver some blows that I cannot dodge in time, as well as tiring me out..."
"Don't touch him!" Lianshi yelled, raising her bow,
"Either of you move an inch, I'll plunge my spear into his heart" Chong countered, "don't test me,"
"No matter who I face..." Flash gasped for breath "... I will fight my hardest... For everypony..."
"And with whatever belief you fight in, you fight well." Chong approved "It's an honour, killing a real-life pony such as you" and he raised his spear, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
"No you don't!" A familiar voice called again and a blur tackled into the looming Tiger Warrior. Applebloom saw the mysterious mare that rescued them from before with the large X-Acto blade axe.
"Xiang Ying!" Lianshi called in relief, as Lin Chong picked himself up from the surprise attack, Xiang Ying picked up the badly wounded Sentry and slumped him next to Applebloom.
"Little kid" Ying motioned to Applebloom "take this vial and pour it's contents on Lihua's soul stone, it will revive her instantly"
"O-Okay." Applebloom did what she was told. As she pulled out the opening seal and tipped the rectangular vial over, a glowing green liquid pours out of the vial and straight towards the dull soul stone. A feint light glowed from the dull soul stone, which to Applebloom's eyes, left her amazed as it attracts the flow of the green liquid and starts to absorb it. The more liquid the soul stone absorbed, it's colour gradually transitioned from dull to yellow. When every last liquid from the vial is absorbed, the Soul Stone was bright yellow and shining once more and with another radiating light, a familiar figure started materialising next to her.
"Miss Lihua" Applebloom cried with glee as she sees her hero retain her full colourful image.
"Applebloom..." Lihua smiled back as she embraced the crying filly.
"Ah'm sorry fer hugging you, even though we only know each other fer 5 days." Applebloom apologised "it's jes' that, what ah've been through with you yesterday, and that time when we first met and fought those varmints... It felt like we've known each other since ferever!"
"Yes..." Lihua nodded, her voice faltering "it really has..."
"Sorry to break your happy reunion, but we've still got a problem to deal here" Ying interrupted, gesturing towards the warrior
"Sorry about that" Lihua nervously apologised,
"Here's another gift for you kid" Ying added and tossed a large green marble to Applebloom,
"This..." Applebloom examined it, what looked to be the symbol of a leaf, twisted in a rather peculiar way. "It's that butcher's soul stone, is it?"
"You catch on real quick" Ying replied, "I defeated her in a blink of an eye. Took me quite a long time just to track you guys down though."
"That's just like you." Lihua replied,
"You'll face me this time Lin Chong" Ying replied, "and we all know what happens when you face me"
"Hmph" Chong grunted and with a swift movement, the two began clashing weapons against each other
"..." Flash bitterly held on,
"Wow Flash, you still held on strong" Lihua replied, "you're much more stronger than I thought you would be..."
"You don't look so good yourself..." Flash replied,
"Although I may still be revived" Lihua replied "I'm revived to a pretty terrible state..."
"Actually," Lianshi butted in, "I may be the your mare for the job. Applebloom? Can you take out my Soul Stone?"
"Sure!" Applebloom nodded, pulling out the Red Soul stone from her pouch, a design of a shield with two flame-tipped arrows crossed in front of it.
"Use my Heroic Skill" Lianshi instructed, "I'm sure you've been told that Pioneers such as you can help activate a hero's Heroic Skill. My one has the ability to heal myself and the allies around me."
"That really would help the situation! Ah'm on it!" Applebloom nodded as raised the soul stone to the air in a swift movement of her leg,
"Skill activation, Healing Arrow! "
Lianshi closed her eyes in concentration, and the arrow currently loaded onto the bow glowed green in colour. With a quick move, Lianshi aimed that arrow on the ground and fired it. The arrow exploded into a green hemisphere of alluring light and energy which surrounded the group. Applebloom felt a relieving and renewing wind which has negated her exhaustion and regained her motivation and mind. For Flash and Lihua, Applebloom saw their wounds being embraced by the green sparks of light as it slowly but surely, shrinks it's size.
"Ahh..." Lihua replied in relief,
"I..." Flash coughed "I guess we're even then"
"Not yet Flash" Lianshi warned "that wound was very large and it can reopen up sooner or later, avoid moving that part of the body."
"Okay, now I'm ready!" Lihua replied, a feeling of motivation coursing through her mind. The sound of explosion can be heard from the ongoing battle, where everypony turned to see what happened.
"Too slow, I'm already done" a voice called out, Xiang Ying walked out of the foggy clouds unscathed, pulling a lifeless earth pony behind her.
"My sister, you did it" Lihua sighed in relief,
"He wasn't much of a problem anyway" Ying laughed as the body crumbled into blue sparks and atoms, leaving behind another large green marble "and here's my third gift kid"
"Thanks a bunch" Applebloom replied as she placed the second Tree Soul Stone in the pouch, "ah'd love to give ya somethin' in return"
"No need, I just want let you know one thing"
"What?"
"That it was a big mistake to take Lihua's soul as your hero" Ying turned around facing Applebloom, anger in her eyes
"Miss Ying??? But ah don't understand..." Applebloom replied with confusion,
"Do you want to know why we're sister in arms?" Ying continued "we've been through with each other longer than you've been living in your world"
"Miss Ying..." Flash intervened, "may I suggest watching your tone?" Ignoring him, Ying pointed her axe at the filly, immobilising her with fear,
"Xiang Ying!" Lianshi gasped "how could you!?"
"Heroes are meant to be independent, not to the like of 'Hunters' like you" Ying continued
"But Xiang Ying..." Lihua stepped in between "you do know that isn't true..."
"Oh really?" Ying replied, "that's because it's you Lihua, you and all the other heroes. Me on the other hand, I'm sure you understand why I don't need someone having a leash on me, especially from a small country bumpkin like her"
"You dare!?" Lihua roared, raising the Pear Blade against her
"Gladly," Ying responded by pulling out her axe "I think it's time to show you how much you've deceived the poor filly and guard"
"No more!" Lihua replied as she charged forward and collided her blade with the large axe, where Ying abruptly knocked her back to a safe position.
"It's my turn now" Ying replied as she raised her axe to the air. The aura of fiery power can be seen through the eyes of the daughter of the Western Overlord of Chu as her weapon's blade turned red as fire.
"Princess Axe!" Ying yelled and she brought down the axe on the fearsome warrior mare, causing a raging cloud of fire that engulfs the poor mare.
"Fan Lihua!" Applebloom called out, as she saw her friend all injured and charred, using her Pear Blade to support herself from the ground.
"No way... Did she?" Flash gasped, "she used a Hero Skill..."
"By herself" Lianshi sighed in response, "I suppose we have been keeping some truths from you"
"You see" Ying continued "unlike both Lihua, Lianshi and most of the heroes, I have the ability to activate the Hero Skill on my own. I did this through hard work and determination. Not by sharing the power of a Hero Buster."
"Dammit..." Lihua growled in despair and shame,
"Face it," Ying taunted "you were desperate to get stronger, don't you? Not just helping this world?"
"..." Lihua silently held her head in dismay,
"That's why I became your sister-in-arms, to see somepony who's younger than me to be so weak, so powerless, so I can show how heroes can manage well on their own."
"Th-That's not true..." Lihua replied, "you also hold a personal grudge against them"
"Whatever, I'll leave you to your 'Hero Buster', see you soon." Ying replied as she galloped away, leaving behind an aghast set of ponies and a emotionally damaged Lihua.
"Miss Lihua..." Flash called, "are... Are you okay?"
"Flash" Lianshi replied, "I think you should leave her to Applebloom."
"Miss Lihua..." Applebloom approached the fearsome mare which is now full of despair "... Are you okay?"
"I'm... I'm so sorry Applebloom" Lihua softly wept "I'm sorry for lying to you..."
"So you mean that whole Hero Skill Kerfuffle with Miss Ying... Is this true?" Applebloom continued
"Yes... I'm sorry..."
"What's going on?" Flash asked, "is there something that we don't know?"
"I think I'd perhaps give you the lay down myself" Lianshi replied, "we should leave them be"
"You see, before Chaos attacked, the revival of heroic souls were already in motion. No matter how famous we were back then, we were used as tools of stallions and mares, ones that will always be eternally living. When freshly revived, we don't regain all our powers immediately from our days of life. Only through the experience of battle, training or memory/power enhancement will we grow strong. Only whenever a Hunter has control of our soul stones, their power will be shared among us to make us strong to face our foe, as well as to train together. Xiang Ying has a big grudge against Hero Busters because she has a bad history with them."
"Was she abused?"
"No, she was disowned, nopony ever wanted her. Every Hero Buster was considered to her, stuck-up, high, too demanding, and only wanted the best of the best. And unfortunately, her view of them has stuck on with everypony else."
"That's cruel..."
"But that's what happened. We were merely tools of war, for any Hero Buster. They didn't care or understand our feelings, the only cared on who's the stronger hero."
"They're just as bad as Chaos then..."
"Xiang Ying didn't like this attitude. Being the stubborn mare she is, she started to train all by herself, everything a Hero Buster would do with their hero, she does it all by herself. Train, enhance her weapon and her power, everything."
"She would be a valuable asset then"
"She did, her determination has been recognised by many other heroes and they also followed suit. They're not as rude and cruel to Hero Busters as she is though..."
"I see..."
"She then found another hero like her who was ditched by many other Hero Busters and unlike any other hero, she took her in and trained together with her, like sisters. The reason why, is because she was very similar to her at the time"
"Fan Lihua..."
"That's her. When all the Hero Busters were gone, it was rather pleasing to Xiang Ying because all heroes would be free from control, but as Chaos started attacking, nearly all of the heroes were assimilated and unlike the Hero Busters, we fell under its control and followed its every commands. With my conscience trapped, I lay waste to my allies and destroyed the Headquaters I called home. Then, we set sights on your world and you know what happened till today."
"The start of Equestria's resistance"
"Now when I think about what you said about the previous Hero Busters being bad as Chaos... I was able to turn and slay my own pioneer with ease, but when facing against Applebloom and Fan Lihua of all heroes... I realised, perhaps I've given in to the fact that we were just heroes who were reborn again just to endlessly kill, that I fell under Chaos' influence. As soon as I heard of her beliefs and personality of how she treated heroes, as well as besting me in battle... I feel like there is some greater power that Heroes can take whenever we fight together... To change both of us for the better..."
"... Applebloom may be very young to be a Hero Buster..." Flash replied, "but what she has learnt from her generation, some righteous ideals and values should be passed on to the old."
"... Sorry that I've lied to you..." Lihua continued apologising "It is true that Heroes are able to use their own Hero Skill by themselves, without the help of a pioneer... And that entrusting my soul to you will also make me stronger... I'm so sorry for using you..."
"..." Applebloom stayed silent,
"But please trust and forgive me when I say this, I still want to protect the home you love, even if I don't have the power, I won't lie to you anymore, I promise"
"... You just lied..." Applebloom spoke,
"I don't know how many times I have to say it, but I'll keep on saying sorry..."
"About that Hero Skill thang? Not that... Sure, it did hurt me a little to see the reason why we've been fightin' together, but yer jus' doin' yer best to save Equestria right? You were lyin' when you said that you were weak."
"... What?"
"Didn't you just say that you wouldn't lie again? Yer lyin' about being weak!"
"Me... Weak?"
"Don't you remember what we went through yesterday? Ponyville was under attack! You then came in and helped defend our town! You defeated Miss Shangxiang and Miss Lianshi! You saved Ponyville! If somepony were able to do that, ah wouldn't call them weak!"
"... Applebloom..." Lihua started,
"We may have a rough start, but when you gave yer soul stone to me, you said that you and me will defeat Chaos and bring the heroes back together! Ah don't know if you still doubt yer strength and that you have to use mine, if ah 'ave any, but that's okay! We'll train together! Fight together! And we can show yer sister-in-arms that not all hunters are like that, and that hunters can expand a hero's limits the right way!"
"Applebloom..." Lihua started crying a third time "... Thank you"
"Ah promise you that as long as we're together, we can overcome anything that does us wrong!" Applebloom extended a hoof.
"... Very well..." Lihua smiled as she used her hoof to shake back "I promise you too, that I will assist you in anyway, to become stronger, together" As their hooves touch, a bright cyan light shone from Applebloom's front right hoof.
"Wha!?" Everypony jumped as Applebloom feel a cooling sensation on the affected hoof. As she put her hoof into view of everypony, a mysterious force in the light began engraving a mysterious symbol on the hoof. A picture that looks similar to a sharp-winged butterfly with it's head as some form of a cross.
"What the heck?" Applebloom gasped in wonder as the engraving finally completed itself in another burst of blue light before calmly radiating a sky blue colour.
"What is this?" Flash immediately galloped to Applebloom's side, inspecting the picture engraved on the hoof.
"This..." Lianshi answered "... This is the insignia of the Hero Busters."
"Pardon?"
"It is a sign to show that whoever has this insignia is a true Hero Buster." Lihua replied, her demeanour and personality back to her own self "I apologise for my emotional outbreak from before"
"Normally, Roya and Qiuxiang are responsible for planting the insignia on new Hero Buster recruits" Lianshi continued "but this is a rare occasion. For an insignia to appear all by itself is a symbol to show that this pony is a real true Hero Buster for creating a strong bond with his/her heroes"
"So are you saying that anypony can sign up to be a Hero Buster in your world?" Flash asked,
"No, they still have a pass a test to see if they have the power to be one, but most ponies came with the desire to control Heroes, not like Young Applebloom at all."
"Is that so? No wonder why most Hero Busters quit or were killed when they found out what they were facing against in your World."
"That's not very funny..." Lianshi replied, "but it is true that our mission is serious, and not just to collect a majority of Heroes"
"Ah see..." Applebloom overheard "so ah really am a Hero Buster after all... Miss Lihua?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks fer choosin' me as yer Hero Buster" Applebloom answered "It's an honour and pleasure to fight with you"
"No" Lihua corrected "the honour and pleasure is mine"
Back at the castle, Twilight handed back the two energy blades, now fixed and effective as before, to the Fire Princess Sun Shangxiang.
"W-We've managed to fix your weapons after a long time of research. Hope you didn't wait for long..." Twilight nervously chuckled, Shangxiang inspected her two blades on the outside, then activated it to release the energy.
"It did take long, but It looks good as new!" Shangxiang replied as she deactivated it and put it away "thank you very much!"
"It's no problem, glad to help another Princess!" Twilight replied,
"Excuse me Princess" A guard informed "there are some ponies here to see you. They say they are related to the Hero Fan Lihua"
"Is that so? Send them in" Twilight commanded, the guard bowed in acknowledgement and let two mysteriously-dressed ponies in, which seems to intimidate the Princess.
"C-Can I help you?" Twilight asked,
"Wait... You're!" Shangxiang jumped,
"Yes... It's us..." One went, a stallion's voice.
"Princess Twilight" the other bowed, a mare's voice "I'd like your permission to create a new business development"
"Wh-What is this about?" Twilight asked, uncertainty in her town
"Don't worry" The mare replied "just a small addition on the town... Heh heh heh..."
Pony Buster: A timeless journey
Prologue: The First Fight!
Applebloom kept staring with her jaws wide open at the dressed and armed mare before her, claiming to be Fan Lihua, a fearsome warrior mare in Ancient Chineigh. Applebloom could see for herself, after studying about this pony for so long, it was inevitable to see that the soldier in the books was exactly like the soldier in front of her.
"Is there something wrong?" Lihua asked, it didn't matter to Applebloom that a warrior from Chineigh could even speak English, it couldn't beat the fact that a pony that was considered dead through time or in battle, was alive and in the flesh, standing right in front of her.
"But... How... Whut are you doin' here!?" Applebloom spoke,
"It's complicated." Lihua replied giving a worried look "I'm not sure if you know about me..."
"No" Applebloom interrupted "Ah know exactly who you are, but it's impossible for you to be here. Aren't you supposed to be... You know... Dead?"
"Supposedly." Lihua answered back, bringing Applebloom into even further surprise and horror. "I shouldn't be discussing this to anypony, least of all a kid, but since you're the only one here, and that you know me, I guess I'll make an except--" A loud clap rang through the sky, interrupting Lihua's decision and spurring the two ponies into sudden alert.
"Was that thunder?" Applebloom looked up worried "the forecast said there wasn't any sign of thunderstorms... And it doesn't sound like thunder..."
"That's because it's not thunder." Lihua warned, "you need to run Applebloom. Now!" And gestured her to run.
"But what's going on!?" Applebloom replied in fear.
"No time! Go back home, NOW!!!" Lihua yelled, "I'll cover your back!" Without a word, Applebloom galloped back towards the direction of Ponyville as fast as she could.
"What about her?" Applebloom thought to herself "what's going on?" Her answer came as a crack in the sky appeared in front of her, revealing a very tenacious vortex swirling outwards. Two scary looking ponies in red leather armor hopped out of the crack looking around in confusion, but still with a fierce glare. As both landed their eyes on the young filly, they glared angrily at her and pulled out their swords. This was enough of a message for Applebloom to gallop away with the swordsponies in hot pursuit. No matter how far Applebloom galloped, the aggressors behind her were trained for war and no sooner were they right on her tail. One stallion got close enough and was about to bring down his sword on the frightened filly, only for a large curved blade to plunge into the stallion and halt his movement completely. The other swordspony and Applebloom stopped running to see a familiar mare had burrowed her spear into Applebloom's chaser. Applebloom shuddered in fear as Fan Lihua abruptly removed the lifeless body with a single kick from her spear, as it collapsed into dust.
"D-Did you just...!?" Applebloom trembly spoke in fear.
"They are not pony." Lihua replied calmly, showing the terrified filly her blade, fully clean and unstained with blood. Seeing the mysterious intruder as a higher threat, the remaining swordspony charged at her.
"But still..." Applebloom tried to understand,
"They are not real ponies as I have said." Lihua explained as she clashed blades with the swordspony, "the same can be said for me. They are souls tainted by darkness, chaos, once brave soldiers that have passed away long ago, now revived and rejuvenated but corrupted by evil." A shove sent the enemy staggering backwards for enough time for Fan Lihua to breathe. "Think of them as... Undead with actual minds and souls. Now should you be running? I don't think I can--" Another interruption came as the swordspony charged for the warrior mare one more time, managing to catch her off guard and deal serious damage.
"Fan Lihua!" Applebloom called in fear once again.
"I'm done for... Don't worry about me! Just go!" Lihua cried back,
"And leave you to die!?" Applebloom called back, determination, courage and anger pushing away her timid demeanour. "You saved mah life, ah owe you plenty!" And with that, Applebloom charged straight for the swordspony, ready to claim the mare's soul.
"Applebloom, no!" Lihua cried but it was too late, Applebloom ferociously kicked the swordsman with a hind kick to the skull, stunning him and knocking him away from his kill as he screams in pain. Lihua took this advantage to recover her weapon and decapitate him in one swing. Applebloom cringed in fear once again as the enemy's head toppled from his body and both body parts exploded into a thousand shards of light.
"Ah...Ah'm sorry..." Applebloom apologised, fear coming back to haunt her once again while offering a hoof to help Lihua up.
"Why should you? You have saved my life. I guess we could call it even, but for a young one like you, I owe you much more, saving me than running... Although you shouldn't have seen that killing in your age." Lihua replied,
"I-It's alright..." Applebloom shook off "Ah saw mah parents die, so ah understand that mostly all of ponykind ain't gonna live forever, ah just haven't seen it like... that."
"If I have scared you greatly, I apologise and I will do anything to make up for it. Although it's best that you must head back to civilisation. It's not safe around here anymore."
"Okay then, you can walk with me, but ah want to know everything. Why yer here when you should have been dead, those aggressive swordsponies and that crack they came from, everything!" Applebloom bartered,
"Very well." Lihua nodded, offering a shoulder "care to walk together? I shall explain everything as we trot by." Applebloom nodded as the two walked back to Ponyville together, with Lihua explaining everything that has happened to her so far.
Pony Buster: A timeless journey
Yellow Dragon: The Fiery Princess
Today was Saturday, and Applebloom felt the weekend was needed to rest, though she found being a Pioneer, Hunter or whatever of those three titles was quite interesting.
"Hmm..." Applebloom woke up to a fresh new start. Trotting towards her dressing table, she remembered that in her top drawer, rests the Soul Stone of her new legendary friend, Fan Lihua.
"Heh heh..." Applebloom chuckled as she cradled the precious large marble. "Good Morning Miss Lihua."
"Good Morning to you too Applebloom." A familiar voice came from the window. Applebloom jumped as she saw Fan Lihua poking in from her barn window.
"H-How did you get here?"
"I know the location of my soul stone. I also can remember most of this town, as I went exploring yesterday." Lihua replied as she hopped into her room. "Quite nice resting quarters you have."
"Thanks?"
"Anyway, keeping the stone in your drawer isn't a good idea. You need to keep the stone with you at ALL times." Lihua replied,
"Hmm, alright then, how about..." She grabbed her Pink ribbon, and after tying her hair with it, slipped the marble inside.
"Too loose." Lihua shook her head.
"Then..." She pointed to her schoolbag.
"You don't carry that everyday now, do you?"
"True..." Applebloom wondered,
"Nope." Lihua shook her head when Applebloom decided to hide it in her CMC clubhouse.
"Not into other ponies' property." Lihua disapproved when the marble was suggested into going into the saddlebags used to carry apples "will your family get mad?"
"Be serious." Lihua sighed when Applebloom popped it into her mouth.
"Well where should ah put it!?" Applebloom rasped, losing patience.
"Think about it. Something that you can carry at all times." Lihua noted, and galloped away once again.
Applebloom grumbled through the busy streets of Ponyville, still thinking on what to do with her Soul Stone. Apart from that, she overheard the town cries that the large crack facing Ponyville isn't the only large and hard-to-seal crack, another is facing towards Canterlot too. If Applebloom's job wasn't hard enough, two cracks needed to be sealed up before any enemy strikes through.
"And ah still need to find some bag fer this." Applebloom sighed until some commotion is happening close to the castle.
"Guards!" Flash Sentry called to attention "Fall in for supply requisition! Canterlot now has improved standard issue small leather pouches for carrying small items and foods, and it is magically enchanted so that it's unbreakable! Please replace your old pouch immediately."
"Hmm..." Applebloom noted and decided to stroll towards the orange pegasus.
"I remember you." Flash started as he spotted the filly "you must be... Applebloom."
"That's me!"
"What can I do for you today?"
"Is it okay if you can do me a favor and get me one of those new pouches?"
"Oh no, absolutely not." Flash replied,
"Please???" Applebloom pleaded, giving her cute sad face and blinking twice.
"I would if I could." Flash explained "it's not breaking the law since you asked for permission, but giving Royal Guard equipment to civilians is going to bring up quite a few issues..."
"Sir! All guards have now replaced their pouches!" A guard called out,
"How many have been exchanged?"
"90"
"How many left?"
"910" The guard replied, "I think we over-requested supplies... Again"
"Spike..." Flash growled in frustration, then had an idea. "Miss Applebloom, please follow me..."
"Am ah getting one?" Applebloom looked up in delight.
"That depends. All I can say is however, today is your lucky day."
"Sir." Another guard was speaking with Spike who was sweating in embarrassment with his mistake of ordering too much supplies, again.
"Let's hope Flash doesn't hear about this..." Spike gulped, until a nearby door slammed open.
"Spike!" Flash called sharply.
"Oh crap..." Spike gulped as a very grumpy Lieutenant walked in with a small filly in tow.
"You have ordered 1000 of these pouches when you're supposed to only order 100. I assume you haven't learnt anything when you did the same thing with the standard issue helmets right?"
"Please don't tell Twilight! I don't want to be punished again!!!" Spike pleaded,
"That depends, if these standard issue pouches were sold commercially, how much would they cost?"
"Wait... What?"
"Tell me now, and I'll plead for a lenient punishment in your defence."
"Why's that?"
"Well..." Flash gestured behind him, where a filly beamed sheepishly.
"Yay!" Applebloom jumped with joy as she played around with the Soul Stone before placing it in her newly purchased, standard issue, magically enchanted, small army pouch for 10 bits and a signing of agreement with item warranty such as non-refundable unless in service of the Princesses and Equestria. "Looks just like a marble bag. How's that Miss Lihua?" There was no response however, probably because she was in the middle of a very busy street and that her presence would cause too much attention. Trotting back home, she found the fearsome warrior mare on a tree, munching on an apple.
"Hope you don't mind!" Lihua called, her mouth full of juicy apple
"Mah family needs to make a livin 'ere you know!" Applebloom sighed "and didn't you say you didn't need ta eat?"
"Yeah, but I eat because it's tasty to my senses. Your apples here are very sweet and juicy!" Lihua shrugged,
"You can just ask you know, we're just friends"
"I will remember to ask permission next time." Lihua nodded as she landed neatly on the ground "are you ready to head out to the portal?"
"Yeah, about that, can we do this later? Like, a few days?"
"But..."
"It's the weekend, can't we just take some rest? Ah mean, sure there's two of these massive Chaos cracks like you called it, but it's not doin' anything bad lately! You should take a rest and enjoy the peace too!"
"Well... I can't really, I need to keep a careful watch..." Lihua spoke with a worried expression. "Okay then, you can rest for this weekend, but upcoming Monday, we need to strike."
"Deal!" Applebloom nodded as she galloped off to join her friends, Lihua hopped back onto the tree and continued peering towards the portal
On Sunday, Applebloom had the feeling to ask why her new friend wasn't mentioned in the historic records of Ancient Chineigh.
"Fan Lihua? There's a good reason for that." Flash replied, "she's actually a fictional figure."
"Wha?!" Applebloom jumped, "she ain't real!?"
"Regardless, her character is quite popular when first used in Chineighse opera and all sorts of soaps. An assumption is that perhaps the company that publishes this book thought about it and decided to add it in. They did the same with King Arthur and Lancelot, and the Gods of Olympia. Are they real? That is... It's debatable whether the Olympian Gods existed."
"Touché..." Applebloom nodded,
"If she were to exist however..." Flash continued, "It would be an honour to learn spear techniques from her."
"Ah'll keep that in mind." Applebloom giggled "see you around Mr Sentry!"
"Take care!" Flash waved goodbye,
Near the evening, Applebloom thought it would be a good idea to show her two friends the Soul Stone in the CMC treehouse.
"It looks pretty." Sweetie Belle stated as she cradled the large marble with her magic,
"Man, If only I had my marbles, I'd try to win it off you!" Scootaloo sighed,
"Nuh-uh! This ain't a marble, and it's not a prize." Applebloom raised her voice,
"What is it then?" Sweetie asked,
"Ah can't tell you, it's a secret."
Finally, the night rolled in, and Applebloom was sure making sure she was ready for tomorrow's fight.
"Are you ready?" Fan Lihua asked, as she once again, entered from the window.
"To be honest, ah'm feeling a little nervous for tomorrow." Applebloom replied,
"Listen, I know you're trying to get others to help you, but a Soul Stone is not for show." Lihua continued "I saw you showing it to your friends today."
"Well, what else can ah do this entire day? Ah just can't stop thinkin' about you and the other heroes."
"It would jeopardize my position and identity, and it may cause problems for your community."
"Okay then, at least we can solve things tomorrow right?"
"Yes." Lihua nodded, "sleep well Applebloom, for we fight tomorrow."
"Goodnight." Applebloom moaned with fatigue as she hopped off to sleep, as Lihua hopped back out to scout.
Applebloom found herself stranded and floating in a purple void of energy, similar to what looked like the Dimensional Crack.
"Hello?" Applebloom called "anypony?"
"Do you know what you have done?" A dreaded voice called out "do you know what you have gotten yourself into?"
"Wh-Who are you?" Applebloom called back, acting tough "show yerself."
"It was foolish for a small young child like you to think that being the first Hunter of your world could stand a chance against us. Do you know how many have failed to defeat us?" The dreaded voice continued
"A-Ah'm not afraid of you!" Applebloom replied,
"Your voice says otherwise, but it is too late, as it appears that you have chosen your path. Your efforts to protecting your world will be futile. We will rain death upon you, and the ones you love." Applebloom body was spun to a direction where she could see familiar figures standing in the distance, all her friends and the people she have known. Stabbed, impaled, burnt, skinned, and every other fate, in all shapes and forms that bring death.
"No..." Applebloom gasped as she sees Applejack stabbed from all directions by silhouettes of pike-wielding ponies.
"Do you know that this is the doom that you will bring to your own family?" The voice continued as Applebloom sees Big Mac decapitated by a shadow axepony.
"S-Stop it!" Applebloom yelled to see even a unicorn shadow, setting Granny Smith ablaze,
"Submit to us, and perhaps we shall consider sparing their lives." The voice continued, as Applebloom was now guided to see her two best friends cowering in fear, with a familiar royal guard trying to repel the countless swarming shadows of enemies.
"I... I..." Applebloom covered her eyes, refusing to see the bloodshed of her own friends and citizens, until the image of Fan Lihua appeared in her mind. With still a timid but determined mind, she rose her head once again to give her answer.
"Never!!!" She yelled, "you would kill everypony anyway!!!"
"Clever little filly..." The dreaded voice sighed "so be it then." As if commanded, the black horde of enemies charged with a war cry straight towards the three ponies and horribly spilt their blood. Suddenly, a dark winged creature rose from the corpses of the three lost souls and dived straight for Applebloom, while Applebloom then found a familiar weapon at her feet. Picking up Fan Lihua's spear, She held it towards the approaching creature as a method to threaten it, but it refused to slow down.
"Death will come. To you and your world." The voice repeated as the winged beast drew near.
"Ah..." Applebloom cried, the spear trembling in her grasp. Bracing and waiting to be struck by the beast, a surge of anger and many positive coursed through her body "Ah won't allow it!" And swung the spear downwards just as the beast was up close.
"Argh!" Applebloom woke up in a jolt as an alarm rang through her room.
"Oh... It's Monday. Guess it's time to save the world." Applebloom sighed as she reached for the alarm clock to put it to snooze. One thing she noticed however, that it wasn't her alarm ringing. Confused, she hopped out of bed, and ran down the stairs, finding her sister, brother and grandmother in suppressed panic.
"Wh-What's goin on out there!?"
"Beats me Applebloom." Applejack replied, "Twilight just initiated the guard to sound the alarm."
"What alarm?"
"That we're bein' invaded! By Ponies!" Applejack explained,
"Ponies?" Applebloom's eyes widened.
"Ah'm goin' to be leavin' for the castle soon for an emergency meeting. Ah want you to stay with Big Mac and Granny Smith."
"No, please sis, let me go with you!" Applebloom pleaded,
"And let you get... Killed? Ah'm not lettin' you join mama and papa early!" Applejack refused, "yer stayin, it's for yer own safety!"
"It's not what you think," Applebloom tried to explain "ah actually--"
"No." Applejack interrupted. Applebloom thought for a moment as if she's defeated, then had an idea.
"Okay then, ah'll stay."
"That's mah sister." Applejack nodded, embracing her sister, "look, if ah don't make it... Make sure you take care of Big Mac and our family alright?"
"You won't... Die. Ah'm sure of it."
"That's good to know." Applejack smiled. Embracing one more time, Applebloom went up to her room, while Applejack quickly galloped off to the castle. Back upstairs in her room, Applebloom decided to jump the window, only to see her Big Bro nailing planks to bar the window.
"Big Mac!" Applebloom whined,
"Sorry little sis, but Applejack says." Big Mac sighed, "fer yer own good." And trotted back down the stairs.
"Well played sis." Applebloom pouted, but broke into a devious grin. "But ah still got one more trick." Bringing out her pouch, she pulled out the soul stone of Fan Lihua. "Time to put that pose ah've been practisin yesterday to good use!" Performing her special spin-a-round pose, she raised her Soul Stone to the air.
"Fan Lihua! Ah summon yer presence to save the world!" Applebloom chanted, but no glow came from the stone. Instead, the sound of splitting wood came from her window. Applebloom turned in fright to see all the wooden planks used to block Applebloom's window neatly cut in half and lying on the floor. Through the window, the fearsome warrior mare in yellow and green was standing on the branches of the nearby tree.
"I'm already here." Lihua replied, "it's looking pretty bad out there, a group of those soldier ponies in red uniform. That means their element is Fire."
"Uh, Miss Lihua?"
"Sure, there may be a few weak enemies like Purings and cats, but I have a dread feeling we'll be facing against our own heroes."
"Miss Lihua?"
"We've got to hurry there now, as a Hero Buster, it is your duty to save your town."
"Lihua!" Applebloom yelled,
"Yes?"
"Ah'm sorry... It was foolish of me to take a break. If, if ah had went with you... None of this could ave happened." Applebloom apologised.
"It's alright." Lihua placed a hoof on her shoulder "what's done is done. We can't change the past. Now, we've got to take the fight to them. Are you ready?"
"... Ah'm ready." Applebloom nodded, her eyes burning with spirit.
"Then hold on. I'm going to move pretty fast." Lihua warned, placing Applebloom on her back, the warrior jumped swiftly and quickly from tree to tree, until she landed on the entrance to the farm. With that, she made a quick dash towards the burning town.
In the castle of Twilight, the meeting was getting pretty desperate as the 6 mares were worried about this desperate attack.
"Are you sure we cannot quickly send a message to Princess Celestia? To request for more aid?" Twilight asked,
"I'm afraid that can't happen darling. The dashing lieutenant says that in the enemy ranks, there is a target that is hindering us from even getting out of Ponyville by air."
"Somepony... Using arrows... Shoots down any escaping Pegasi..." Fluttershy whimpered,
"Send me! I can outfly any arrow shot at me." Rainbow volunteered,
"We're not takin the risk." Applejack stopped, "this pony could shoot you down instantly."
"Well, what can we do?" Pinkie asked, Twilight just looked out at the commotion.
"This is a nightmare..." Twilight gulped, "please, Royal Guard. Help us."
"We cannot let our Princess and her friends down!" Flash Sentry yelled, trying to increase morale "we can do this everypony!"
"Yes sir!" Came the response. The Royal Guards of Ponyville were able to at least mount a defence, but without any idea or knowledge of the enemy, apart from the fact that there is some powerful enemy archer preventing an attack from the air, the guards are pretty much grounded.
"Sir, do you honestly think we can pull through?" A guard asked, "these guys are fierce."
"Dang it, I guess there is no choice. Make sure the castle is defended! I'll take the fight to them." Flash replied, and galloped towards the enemy.
"Mister Flash!" A familiar voice stopped him in his tracks. Flash turned towards the voice and his face fell in horror as he saw the familiar red-maned pony from before.
"Applebloom!?" Flash blurted and quickly ran to her side. "What are you doing here? This area is dangerous! Don't you know that enemies are attacking!?"
"Ah know." Applebloom replied, "and ah know how to beat them."
"You know how to... Wait, what?" Flash jumped, unexpected to hear those words from a filly.
"Just be careful!" Applebloom warned "there's a varmint headed straight for you!" Flash took the message and instantly parried the incoming sword strike. Skilfully spinning and twirling his spear, Flash was able to gain the advantage over the enemy and in no less than half a minute, was the swordspony pinned to the floor.
"Surrender, and I may be lenient on your torture." Flash threatened, the spear pointed at the enemy's neck.
"Flash, this may seem a bit brutal but... You gotta... How do ah say this... Neutralize him."
"I beg your pardon?" Flash replied in horror, still keeping his eyes and spear at the enemy. "Are you telling me to... Kill him?"
"Exactly." Another voice came from his right. A curved blade pierced into the body of the assailant and Flash pulled away in fear, realising what had happened. As the body collapsed into light, Flash looked to the right to see the Fan Lihua, standing her spear upright.
"You..." Flash started "do you know what you have done? Even though they are a threat to Equestria, we never take their life!"
"These guys no longer have lives." Lihua explained "they're not even pony. They are just awakened and revived souls solely for battle."
"... It seems you have fought this enemy before, considering that I haven't seen you around from here."
"You're right, I only just came to Equestria a while ago. But I shall explain everything later. Right now, you need to trust me when I say that the only way to stop this enemy is to kill them. If you really want to protect this town." Flash stayed silent at this proposal, staring at Lihua.
"Please Flash, ah know it's hard for you, but you can't trust her, then you gotta trust me on this one." Applebloom added, Flash continued staying silent, and made his decision.
"... Very well, I will lend you my spear." Flash agreed, "but I want a full explanation of what is going on from both of you. Understand?"
"You have my word." Lihua bowed,
"It's a promise." Applebloom agreed,
"Sir..." One of the remaining guards spoke up "are you sure we can trust her?"
"I don't know who you are miss." Flash continued "but, I can tell that you've been through Tartarus fighting against these criminal scums. The eyes of a fearsome warrior. That's why I'm temporarily throwing my trust on you."
"I promise you too, that I will make sure to maintain this trust." Lihua added,
"What is needed to drive back the enemy?" Flash asked,
"I'll need 5 stallions to accompany me. I assume you'll be one of them?"
"Of course." Flash agreed and turned to the crowd "If 4 of you are willing to fight for your loved ones, to protect them and their homes. Ca--"
"No need to ask anymore sir." The guard filled with doubt stepped up. "I'm convinced that you fully trust her, then I'll trust her too."
"So shall we." 3 other soldiers also stepped up bravely.
"You have my gratitude." Lihua bowed "Applebloom, we need to make our move."
"She has to come?" Flash asked,
"Yes. Like I have said, I will explain everything."
"The plan of attack is simple, we are to simply take down the enemy rank by rank. Most enemy hordes used for defence or invasion are split up into 4 different platoons. Each one led by a commander of that group, or as I call it, the Boss. The weakest of the platoon goes first, then they get stronger as we push through." Lihua planned, "My best method is for everypony to focus on a single enemy, one by one."
Encountering the First Platoon, the small pack of Royal Guards seem very motivated to strike right towards the enemy. The team devised a small strategy that works easily. Such as having one guard knock an enemy off balance and the other striking true. Sure, the Guards were reluctant to actually kill, but understanding the fact that these were just reanimated souls in fake bodies, they got used to it. After tripping and defeating every swordsmen along with some weird creatures, the group managed to engage the platoon commander, a female swordsmare wearing a special red leather armor. Although she fought fiercely, she couldn't overpower 6 highly trained fighters with an actual fighting plan and found her neck cut with one slash by Lihua's blade.
The enemies we face not only include just weapon wielding ponies, they also include different types of monsters that were created by Chaos itself. I think I can see Purings and Cats." Lihua continued
"Cats? Ah'm not really sure we should kill them... Perhaps they can be useful?" Applebloom replied,
"Don't let their cuteness fool you, they are quite deadly. You are right about one thing, them being useful. As well as the Purings too."
"Why's that?" Flash asked,
"Only for the heroes. I'll explain later." Lihua replied,
Blowing through the second platoon, the Royal Guard were still standing strong. Likewise, the team employed the same tactic as before, with Applebloom cheering from the sidelines, and no sooner was the platoon commander right in their reach. The Fire General, a mare that wields a weapon similar to Lihua, laughs at them as a taunting gesture, but Lihua, Flash and the other guards are not amused and no later did the guards and Lihua exchanged and shared blows and stabs against the General before launching her into the air, where Flash finished the job with a fierce spear throw through the stomach.
"Ah hope nopony hears about this." Applebloom gulped as she saw the enemy's body turning into a large wisp of billowing smoke.
"In a situation like this, we can say it will be off the books. Also, I'm sure the Princesses will understand that these ponies are indeed not... Pony." Flash replied, "the enemy is no longer in Ponyville, but it won't be long before the 2nd half of the horde comes as backup. We'll need to march out now."
"One more thing, if anypony of you get seriously wounded or injured." Lihua added, and showed the group a large bag chock full of potions. "These potions are of great importance and should be used when in trouble. Some can accelerate repair and regeneration for your physical body. Other can re-energize you back into your optimal condition, or even better. That's all you should know. If you do get knocked down, you must retreat or get somepony to help you retreat immediately."
"Ah'll do it." Applebloom volunteered "ah may not be suited fer battle, but I'll help drag anypony to safety."
"Very well, may we all get this through unscathed." Lihua replied "If we defeat the first two platoons, we will push the enemy out of Ponyville, until they decide to send their final two platoons."
"We'll be approaching the 3rd platoon soon." Lihua replied as she saw another platoon coming from the distance. "It also seems that the 4th platoon will be joining too."
"Prepare for battle." Flash commanded,
"Heh!" One guard spoke "this actually feels like a pushover! We'll get this down in no time!"
"Don't get cocky just yet." Flash warned "the enemy we face may be a far different level of difficulty than Nightmare Moon, Queen Chrysalis, Sombra or Tirek, but we still shouldn't underestimate our enemy."
"... Oh no..." Lihua gulped, using a pair of binoculars to scout the enemy.
"Do you need help with the binoculars again Miss Lihua?" Applebloom asked,
"I know how to use it now, thank you." Lihua shook her head "The 3rd and 4th platoon together are part of a special squadron, the Red Strike. They are quite powerful ponies that are mostly used for attacking. They go in a peaceful village, and leave it burning into ashes."
"Now there's no way in Tartarus that we'll let them do that." Another guard spoke,
"Led by this group is... Bu Lianshi. The personal bodyguard of her Princess."
"Lianshi?" Flash jumped "isn't she--?"
"Her weapon of choice is a powerful one-hoofed crossbow designed solely for her, she is highly and exceptionally skilled at using it."
"So she must be the one preventing anypony from escaping by flight." Flash theorised,
"That is highly likely." Lihua nodded, "she fires quick. Regardless, if we were to defeat her now, it will allow pegasi to fly again."
"But..." Applebloom objected, "we're dealin' with another Hero... Right?"
"Unfortunately yes." Lihua nodded, "but we have overpowered most of these soldiers because we worked together as a team, I have the utmost faith and certainty that we can take her down together."
"Thanks for the compliment." The guard blushed,
"Either way, I'm sure they've noticed that their two platoons have been wiped out and are coming this way, perhaps..."
A long black-maned beauty wearing red-silk armor led her platoon carefully on the dirt path, making their way towards Ponyville.
"Listen everypony." The mare spoke "it turns out our first 2 platoons have been wiped out. It appears this town has initiated a defence and succeeded in pushing us out. Not only that, they seem to know our plan of attack..."
"Attack!" Came a quick command and before the enemy platoon could react, Flash Sentry and the 4 Royal Guards hopped out of the bush, managing to quickly neutralize a third of their total force before quickly assembling a road block. The mare immediately raised her crossbow and fired at the pony wall, but was deflected by a sharp blade as Fan Lihua jumped right between the two groups.
"Bu Lianshi." Fan Lihua spoke in greeting.
"I should have known." Lianshi sighed, "apparently, not all of the heroes have been defeated. You're interfering with the Princess' Plans."
"You should know better Lianshi." Lihua replied, "being her personal guard is not just guarding her, you must also give advice."
"That's the job of an advisor!" Lianshi rebuked, "I protect and carry out her orders!"
"And you seem to have separated from her to attack us and... Oh my, bringing her stallions as backup? Are you sure that's a good idea? We could send assassins to quickly end her first."
"Nice try Lihua, but this was a simple attempt to take this town instantly. A town without the knowledge of our attack, it would be impossible to send an assassin when you're busy defending. I thought this would be a victorious and successful capture, until I heard what happened to the two platoons. Looks like you were behind it after all."
"Surrender, enemy commander." Flash commanded "this doesn't have to end ugly."
"Oh it already has." Lianshi replied and quickly fired an arrow. Flash knew however, that when he said those words, there would be a instant chance that the enemy will strike. With the arrow sailing harmlessly past his head. Flash flew straight up to her and resorted to hoof punching.
"Rgh..." Lianshi reeled back as Flash's hoof knocked her head upwards in an uppercut. "You've got nerve hitting a lady."
"Gender does not matter. If they are an enemy and if they strike first, I will retaliate." Flash replied and threw another punch.
"You've caught me off-guard that time." Lianshi smiled as she blocked his hoof with her own. "You won't get lucky again!" And a sudden jerk of her hind legs knocked the pegasus backwards.
"Say goodbye." Lianshi stated, raising her bow for a clear shot.
"Goodbye!" Applebloom jumped out tackling the crossbow mare to the floor, interrupting the attack.
"Applebloom!" Lihua jumped to her side as Applebloom quickly hopped away to a distance safe from Lianshi's range. "You clearly know that you shouldn't get involved!"
"And let her kill Mr Sentry? Ah prefer him alive." Applebloom replied,
"Well well..." Lianshi chuckled as she dusted herself off the ground. "A little filly. Fighting along with a hero of legend? This will be interesting. You don't mean to say Fan Lihua, that you have given your soul to this little country peasant?"
"Take that back!" Lihua replied, "Applebloom is more than what you think!"
"Oh I'll show what I think of her, of all of you." She continued and pointed her hoof "obstructions in the path of my Princess. Kill them!" With that, the enemy horde charged straight towards the group in full force.
"Uhh... I don't think we can take them all at once." The guard spoke as he readied his spear with shaky hooves.
"That's true." Lihua nodded, "and with Lianshi assisting from afar, we may be sitting ducks." Suddenly, an idea popped into her head.
"Applebloom? Here's a new lesson I'd like to teach you with the stone." Lihua called, "I want you to activate my skill."
"Yer... Skill?"
"Hold the stone, swing your arm upwards and say 'skill activation'."
"Huh, sounds simple." Applebloom giggled. With that, she pulled the soul stone out of the pouch and swung it upwards.
"Skill, activate!" Applebloom yelled, a white wave of energy calmly burst from the stone and as it went through Lihua, a yellow aura surrounded her.
"I can feel your power." Lihua noted to Applebloom and leapt to the sky.
"Lord Strike!"
Lihua brought her blade down to the ground in front of the advancing hoard and it triggered a large shock wave of yellow energy in the form of a sharp projectile that shook the ground and renders every enemy that it passes lifeless. No later was the ground covered in fading and vaporising bodies.
"Woah! That was awesome!" Applebloom looked in amazement, it seems the the guards behind had witnessed the massive attack and were applauding her skill, only Flash was the one that looked unfazed.
"Typical. Heroes can easily activate skills as long as their hunter assists them." Lianshi watched from a tree. "Never mind that, I shall finish you myself!"
"Oh no you don't!" Flash intervened, catching her as she attempted to land and brought her crashing into the ground.
"You should have continued to keep an eye on us." Flash replied, pinning her down "I'm sorry that we have to end this anti-climatically, but we don't have enough time in our hands." Lianshi glared at Flash's face as a forced reply.
"Check-mate" Flash answered back as a fatal blow to the head knocked her out for good. Like the other enemy soldiers, she too either dissolved into light or crumbled like dust. However, where she lied, a large marble rested there. It looked similar to Lihua's soul stone, only that it was Red, had a picture symbol that looks like a flame, and a different picture which would have been the cutie mark of Bu Lianshi.
"That's awkward." Flash stated as he picked the stone up. "Is this the remains of that mare?"
"Sort of." Lihua replied, quickly taking the stone from him. "I can tell you for now that if this thing is still around, Lianshi can come back."
"So..."
"I'll explain. For now, I think Applebloom should keep this in her care." Lihua answered and tossed the stone to Applebloom, to which she neatly caught it using the pouch.
"Funny. This marble feels just like yours." Applebloom noted as she tightened the pouch shut and safely hung it from her sides.
"Well well well..." Another voice echoed. "Looks like somepony's got quite far through my soldiers." The 7 ponies turned to see a blond-maned pony from the distance, unlike the soldiers and the mare named Lianshi, this pony was a unicorn and with her magic, was levitating two futuristic-looking blades, one purple and one blue.
"Who's that?" One of the guards asked,
"Allow me to introduce myself." The mare answered followed with a bow. "My name is Sun Shangxiang. The daughter of the emperor of Eastern Wu State, which makes me the Princess!"
"So that's who that Lianshi woman was talking about. That's the Princess she was guarding." Applebloom mumbled to herself.
"I'm afraid that's far as you go. The Death King demands this town conquered and destroyed." Shangxiang continued,
"Not a chance Missus!" Applebloom replied,
"Indeed, I have decided to protect this peaceful town along with its inhabitants. I will not let you or Chaos control it." Lihua added.
"You talk smart Lihua." Shangxiang spoke, "but I'm afraid you are on wrong side. Why pain yourself fighting us, when you can join Chaos?"
"Never! What nonsense are you spouting from your mouth?" Lihua replied "you are being controlled by Chaos! You are not acting out of your own accord!"
"Enough!" Shangxiang shouted "we come to do battle, not parley! And I shall eviscerate you all!" Levitating her swords to the air, they 'opened' up and emitted a large beam of energy unknown to the ponies and were shaped like the blades, only that it was made by this energy and it's much bigger.
"Everypony fall back! Her blades can burn through skin!" Lihua warned. Shangxiang leapt forward attempting to slice her target with a cross slash, but clashed with the blade of Lihua's spear.
"Wha? Ah thought her weapon can slice through skin!" Applebloom looked afraid but confused about what was happening.
"Every weapon and armor of a hero is unique and powerful. It is no mere sword or body plate." Lihua replied and pushed her back, to which the enemy unicorn performed a back-flip with somersaults to create distance
"Not bad Lihua." Shangxiang landed neatly on the dirt path. "But it will take more than the power of the earth to stop me!" Once more, Shangxiang leapt at the warrior, while Lihua charged too.
"Stay back!" Lihua commanded, "this is my fight between her!" The Royal Guard obeyed as they looked in awe at the two mares ferociously clashing their blades, attempting to look for an attack of opportunity.
"This is bad, they seem evenly matched!" A guard spoke,
"For a unicorn, she is extremely agile." Flash replied, "I don't see her letting her guard down anytime soon."
"There must be some way to help Lihua!" Applebloom asked, "but what?" Then, she remembered something.
"I'm already here." Lihua replied, "it's looking pretty bad out there, a group of those soldier ponies in red uniform. That means their element is Fire."
"That's it!" Applebloom jumped with joy "If all those varmints were fire types, that means she's a fire-type hero too!" And looked to the sky.
"Dang it!" Applebloom yelled in frustration as she gazed towards the clear sky.
"Applebloom?" Flash wondered what was going on with the little filly.
"Mister Sentry, ah have a plan to help Lihua. But ah need it now."
"Anything." Flash replied,
"Ah need a cloud with the heaviest rain." Applebloom demanded "ah plan to rain on Shangxiang's parade."
"But it's a cloudless day." Flash explained "It would be rare to find a cloud. However, I do know one such pony who can help me find one."
"Really?"
"Today's weather forecast." Flash announced "the arrow storm has ceased today and will never come back. Through the minute, a heavy rainstorm will ensue near Ponyville." And with that, he took off like an arrow to the direction of the castle.
Back in the castle, The 6 mares were wondering what was going on, although they saw everything. The appearance of this mysterious mare, how she convinced the Lieutenant and a few other guards to fight for her, and the horror but amazement of how those 6 ponies were able to strike down both groups of enemies and clearing them out of Ponyville. The last they saw of them was heading away from Ponyville towards the direction of where the enemies come from. They didn't however, notice that Applebloom was in the mix of all this. The one who was travelling with the mare and the one that hid herself within the unauthorized dispatched party.
"Dang. Ah sure hope Applebloom's alright." Applejack spoke,
"Relax darling." Rarity comforted "I'm pretty sure you kept her at home in company with Big Mac and Granny Smith, unlike my sister who has to deal with Opal shut in."
"Oh dear... Flash and brave ponies, please be safe." Twilight prayed,
"At your service miladies." A familiar voice came from the balcony.
"Flash!" Pinkie cheered as she saw the orange pegasus. "You're still alive!"
"And so are the others, for the time being." Flash replied,
"Flash, what is going on?" Twilight asked,
"Not enough time to explain, I need to borrow you Rainbow Dash."
"Me?"
"Where is the nearest raincloud? One with heavy rain if possible."
"It's a colossal downpour today in Cloudsdale." Rainbow Dash explained "but I don't think messing with the weather forecast is a good idea."
"It is a matter of life and death." Flash replied "for the safety and victory of her... and us!"
"Her? Who is this... Her?" Fluttershy picked up.
"Flash..." Twilight spoke with suspicion.
"She is the mysterious mare that I assume you have seen." Flash explained. "She may not be from around here or from Equestria for all I know, but she is fighting for us. The Royal Guards owe her, I owe her, I won't let her die!"
"... Very well then." Twilight nodded, "We can allow a small freak storm, but I want to know about everything if we pull through."
"You will, I promise on behalf of Equestria and under your command" Flash bowed,
"Follow me pal!" Rainbow instructed as she soared to the skies with Flash closely behind.
Back to the fight, the team isn't faring very well. Shangxiang managed to knock Lihua off balance and dreadfully wounded her with her two energy blades. As Applebloom was swift to bombard her with potions, the 4 remaining guards ganged up on the enemy. The Princess swirled her two blades around as well as upwards and downwards and easily inflicted damage on each guard.
"Argh!" A guard went as he was severely cut more than 10 times.
"Guh!" Another guard went limp after receiving many slashes to his leg.
"This ain't good, you guys need to get out of here!" Applebloom cried,
"She's right." Lihua nodded, "I'll take over!" And jumped back to the fray, fully recovered while Applebloom and the two unharmed soldiers dragged the damaged ones back.
"Heh. This lot is not worth a challenge." Shangxiang taunted "It's a miracle that they have you. Otherwise, their fight is over."
"Enough! You shall not taunt these ponies any further!" Lihua rebuked,
"Even you drag the young ones as the medic. Your allies really are low in morals, aren't you?"
"Enough!" Applebloom overheard as she was treating the guard's wounds. Leaving them with ample potions, Applebloom stood forward and confronted the Princess. "Ah ain't no young un! It was mah choice to go out in the field. To protect Ponyville, the ones ah love, ah would put mah life on the line for it! So would others who think the same!"
"You've got a lot of mouth little filly." Shangxiang spoke, "I admire that, too bad you don't have the skills to back it up." She threateningly held a blade towards Applebloom "This will be a quick victory for me!"
"Ah may not have skills." Applebloom replied, but as she looked to the ground, she grinned as she saw a looming shadow. "But ah have friends. Friends like Miss Lihua, Mr Sentry and even the guards you've injured."
"Huh?" Shangxiang looked distracted as she saw a very dark cloud towering above her.
"And it's friends that ah have that can do the impossible through uncanny means." Applebloom continued "such as using the weather!" And with that, Flash pounded downward on the cloud, releasing a heavy torrent of water. It was too late for Shangxiang to react and was no sooner crumbling under the horrific downpour.
"Argh!" Shangxiang growled, as she tried to heave herself out of the rain cloud. No matter how hard she moved, the pegasus always made sure the cloud stood over the Princess.
"No!" She grumbled as he two energy blades came to contact with water and short circuited. "My weapons!"
"Water..." Lihua thought to herself as she saw the Fire Princess getting wet and sloppy. "I have never thought of that!"
"She's disarmed Miss Lihua." Applebloom signalled "now let's take her down!" Once more, she swiped the soul stone to the air and chanted "skill activation! Lord Strike! "
"Raahhh!!!" Lihua roared as she brought down her weapon once again, The familiar shock wave of yellow energy with the sound of crumbling rocks and in the shape of a sharp slice projectile was released and sped through the Princess, slicing her in half.
"Ahhhh!!!" Shangxiang screamed in pain as her body faded into light and into non-existence, leaving behind a large red marble. After that, silence could be heard throughout the area.
"Is..." One of the injured guards winced in pain "Is it over?" Applebloom looked at Lihua, then to the air where Flash Sentry landed down. With a nod of agreement from both,
"... It's over." Applebloom smiled, "ah think we just saved Ponyville."
"Well done Applebloom." Flash replied, "your tactic has worked wonders. I believe the credit goes to your quick thinking. It is an honour to say thank you on behalf of Equestria and me."
"And I want to say thank you too." Lihua added, "for saving my life a second time, you have my deepest gratitude."
"Three cheers for Applebloom!" An injured guard chanted in victory "hip hip..."
"Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!" The guards went.
"Let's go home." Applebloom gestured,
"Thank you once again, for your assistance in protecting Ponyville." Flash remarked as they returned.
"No problem!" Applebloom replied,
"But remember our agreement." Flash spoke in a strict tone, revealing a familiar large red marble.
"Wait... What the!? How did you get that?" Applebloom gasped,
"You forgot to pick it up, remember?" Flash replied, "this was what remained of the Shangxiang mare"
"Crap..." Applebloom cursed her memory.
"Now" Flash spoke, "I want to know everything." He turned to Lihua "who you really are and your origin, how you know these things, these... Heroes, certain names I do recall from the books of ancient history. And..." He turned to Applebloom "why you are thrown in this mess"
"A promise is a promise." Applebloom nodded, "this is..." She gestured to the yellow mare.
"I am Fan Lihua." Lihua introduced with a bow "the Turkic Princess of Neighsia."
"No way..." Flash spoke in silence. "That's impossible."
"Ah know it's hard to see a fictional figure in the flesh, but that's actually her." Applebloom replied,
"And those two..." Flash continued "Bu Lianshi and Sun Shangxiang. They were also heroes of ancient Chineigh, weren't they?"
"That is correct." Lihua nodded,
"Hmm... What I'm really confused about, is that one of them was a..."
"When we were revived and rejuvenated, we may have undergone a few changes, from small things such as our previous occupations, power and positions, to the most drastic being age or gender." Lihua interrupted,
"I... See."
"The heroes and I were awakened in order to serve. A dimensional rift has opened where I come from, and we had to close it. This rift however has a mind of its own. It could create its own sort of pony soldiers and capture any heroes it could get its hands on. The ponies who were responsible and has the power for awakening heroes like me banded together to fight back against that rift we call 'Chaos', they were known by 3 titles: A Pioneer, Hunter or Hero Buster." Lihua took a deep breath then continued.
"Unfortunately, the number of Hunters we had were decreasing and declining, whether through discharge from duty or killed in action. It was then we had no more hunters or pioneers but only two ponies that are considered assistants, that took over. They treated every hero with kindness, respect, as if we were equals, allies... And friends, in your term of words."
"It seems you had a pleasant life," Flash evaluated "until..."
"Chaos inflicted a full-assault on our base, with the heroes he gathered. We were taken by surprise and that any sort of resistance was pushed aside or destroyed. A majority of heroes, my allies were captured, killed and assimilated to the side of Chaos. In the midst, we had one more card to play: Escaping." Applebloom winced hearing the story a second time.
"We managed to activate a stable portal that could take us to another dimension, but like I said before, most heroes didn't make it. Roya was killed, I dare say she was assimilated too, and I never knew what happened to Qiuxiang or the rest of the heroes that did." A tear dropped from her eyes "It was... heartbreaking."
"But didn't you say that they also ended up here?"
"Yes..." Lihua nodded, "as such, we were in an unknown world with unknown inhabitants. We were split up and all alone. My instinct was always to keep a low profile and not to be spotted. Eventually, we knew that Chaos would track us down here, sooner or later. I desperately tried to find my allies, to band together and mount some sort of counter-attack against them in order to protect the world we jumped into, yours."
"But if what you say is true..." Flash replied "even if you manage to find your comrades, you would be without a hunter."
"I know, they were our power source, our strategist, our tactician." Lihua nodded "I thought that ponies with such powers could only exist in my world, but I was wrong. They do exist in this world too, and one of them is Applebloom."
"Ah know..." Applebloom looked away in embarrassment. "Now ah know it doesn't feel so good to boast about such powers. Especially if it's responsibility and owning up."
"So that's why you are a part of this scuffle Applebloom." Flash concluded "you are a Hero Buster."
"Yes" Applebloom nodded,
"It is amazing that you have this power but the big matter here is how other ponies will take it, your sister especially." He closed his eyes in deep thinking "I don't know how to explain this."
"Mister Sentry." Applebloom pleaded "please, you can't let Big Sis know about this."
"Hmm..." Flash looked at Applebloom with great concern. "When I saw you at school last Friday, reading those books with great interest and attention. And the day when you wanted one of those pouches... A happy-go-lucky filly, to a mare who perseveres through the darkest truths of life. You really have changed so much within the weekend"
"Ah'll admit that this attack was a surprise to me too." Applebloom continued "but I have seen... Death before, actual death."
"I know that feeling..." Flash sighed, "but since you have now accepted this power... You will be relied on dealing with this invasion, right?"
"No turning back if I join Miss Lihua." Applebloom nodded "ah know that I can't quit or stop. Ah've made my decision and ah know the consequences. Ah'm doin this to help mah friends."
"Applebloom." Flash bowed "I believe you have matured to a strong mare. You are now taking responsibility for your choices, and you want to help others who are close to you."
"So... Am ah okay?"
"Not really." Flash stood up again "I've only said you've grown. As for dealing with the matters at hand, I have to report to Princess Twilight for that. Although you've been very courageous in standing against the enemy, pulling through the attack through Ponyville, as well as help out the injured guards, I still need to brief the situation. This is what I can do however..."