Friendship and War

Chapters

Prologue: Blood and Steel
Chapter 2: Strange Ponies
Chapter 3: Introductions
Chapter 4: Scouts
Chapter 1: Strange New World and Bodies

Prologue: Blood and Steel

Captain Grive al’Tera clutched the hilt of his sword tightly as he glanced to the men and women that stood with him at the base of a large dais in the center of a cavernous room decorated with tapestries depicted the symbol of the Temple of Frincen, a single apple atop crossed arrows. Grive and his men were not there to worship, they were there to die. Every man and women with him wore the same armor he did, black with silver trim, the image of a silver raven taking flight emblazed on their chest, the Symbol of the Lungrid Empire.

The city of Halentil where the Temple of Frincen was had been a peaceful city, one that while technically part of the Empire, had been allowed to govern itself with only a few laws and interference from the Empires militaristic government. The city had been founded on the ideals of Peace and Understanding of the world around you. As such they hadn’t seen completely eye to eye with the Empire’s views but they had been respected for standing by their beliefs. As such no soldiers of the Empire had ben garrisoned within the city and they had a small town watch for keeping the peace. However the governing body of the city had agreed and seen reason in having an outpost built nearby under the condition the soldiers within only enter the city in the event of an emergency to provide support. And so the Teromel Outpost had been built and garrisoned.

The handful of soldiers with Grive was all that was left of the Teromel outpost who had rushed to defend the city of Halentil when word of a large army of the Empire’s former ally and now enemy, The Domanik Republic was approaching the city. Eight hundred men and women had rushed from the outpost with the simple objective of defending the city or, failing that, holding long enough for the civilians to flee the city. The plan had worked, every single civilian has managed to make it out of the city when Grive had given the order for them to evacuate, but it had come at a cost. While making sure every civilian had made it safely from the city it had allowed the Republic’s soldiers to completely surround the city, cutting off any hope of the soldiers still within the city walls of retreating.

And so with no other option left, they fought. Even as the wall was breeched, even as the city was set ablaze, they fought, not for their lives, every one of them knew there was no chance of them surviving this fight, not when the enemy outnumbered them ten to one, Lungrid had the best army of the entire continent of Contara, some even said on the entire planet, which was saying something considering the Empire was the smallest country in Contara, it was why the Republic sent such a large force to take the city even though its only real defense was a small outpost of eight hundred soldiers, they could win with numbers.

No, the soldiers fought so hard simply to by time for the civilians to but as much distance between them and the doomed city as possible, as long as the Republic’s army was focused on taking the city, it wasn’t focused on the fleeing civilians. And that is how an outpost of eight hundred soldier was reduce to merely fifteen injured and tired men and women now making a last stand in the main worship hall of the Temple of Frincen.

Grive looked back at the large double doors at the far end of the hall as a loud thump resounded against it and the doors bowed inwards. Every bit of furniture they soldiers could find with in the temple now lay against the door in a hastily constructed barricade.

Grirve’s men were tired and injured, all of them sported injuries of some sort, whether it be the shallow cuts and bruises of the one infantrymen holding a pike, to more serious injuries such as one of the three horseback swordsmen whose left half of his face and entire chest was wrapped in bandages under his armor and he could barely keep a grip on his sword. All of them, including Captain al’Tera were exhausted. While it was true that the men had been outnumbered it hadn’t meant they didn’t make the Republic pay for every inch of ground they took in blood. It had been before dawn when the battle had been joined and now it was well past the middle of the night.

Grive looked at his men again, two crossbowmen on the flanks, a single exhausted mage, two scouts holding their daggers at the ready, seven infantry meant armed with various weapons from swords, to maces, to spears and pikes and three horseback horsemen on foot beside their horses. While Horseback swordsmen were far more effective actually riding upon their horsed, the marble floor was not conducive for such fighting, so instead the stood beside the animals who they had raised and trained since the horsed were first born, the horses would stay by their rides site and attack with hoof and teeth at any threat to their rides that came near. Having the riders raise their horses since they were born been in practice for generations as it foster an unbreakable trust between the horse and rider, though it did have its draw backs. Grive has personally seen many horseback swordsman go into a blind frenzied when their companions were slain before them attacking anything and everything that was responsible without any regard for personally safety, even their own allies if they were dumb enough to try and stop them, no, it was better to let them go, better to let them fall to the enemies blade avenging their companions then letting them be consumed by the guilt and remorse till they eventually fell upon their own blade…

Looking over his tired and wounded men and women he could see them shaking from exhaustion, the Gods and Goddesses knew he was exhausted as well. His soldiers needed him. Grives stepped in front of his men and turned his back to the door to face them, the artifact that that was housed upon it, the only object not used to barricade the door as it was a sacred item, behind his men. Grive liked his lips and began to speak. “I know what you are all feeling. “He was acutely aware of the bloody bandage wrapped around his head. “We are all feeling it, tired, exhausted, feeling the pain of loss. We lost many good men and women today, friends and family alike, and soon we shall be joining them. But we go knowing that we have kept our Oaths to the Empire and completed our mission. By now the refugees have reached Graphon and are safe within its wall, protected by our brothers and sisters there, but now the enemy is at the door, ready to face a beaten and broken force of trapped and scared soldiers. But we are not just any soldiers; we are soldiers of the Lungrid Empire! We do not flee in the face of a superior force, no, we bare our swords and scream our defiance! We do not go quietly, we do not go easy, no we make them pay for every single one of our brothers and sister who they took from us with a dozen of their own soldier! We stand here now knowing we have fulfilled our Oath’s to the Empire. And though they shall kill us on this night, we shall make them pay for every inch of ground we stand upon!” Grive raised his sword above his head and his soldiers grip their weapons tightly, the look of cold defiance in every eye, the steel determination on all their faces and he smiled to the men and women who were his soldiers.

There was a loud crash of splintering wood behind Grives as the door fell from their hinges and crashed to the floor and he turned to see the blues and greens of the Republic’s soldiers storming into the temple. “FOR THE EMPIRE!!!” He cried, a cry that was echoed by every one of his soldiers as the advancing river of blue and green slammed into the wall of black and silver and the last battle of the Teromel Outpost's forces began. The great hall of the temple echoed with the sounds of metal on metal and screams as slowly the Empire’s soldiers were pushed back onto the raised dais. During the fight no one noticed as the object upon the dais, a small white sphere about the side of two fists and with the carving of a strange winged animal with a horn upon it started to glow and rose off of its stand as the empires soldier’s boots and hooves touched the dais. The light grew brighter and brighter till the sound of fighting stopped as everyone within the room had to shield their eyes as the sound of rushing wind started to fill their ears growing louder and louder. Then suddenly there was an even brighter flash, and when the Republic’s soldier’s vision returned, the Empire’s soldiers, horses, and the object were gone.

Author's Note

This is as idea I've had for about a week now and decided to give it a shot and see how it goes.

Chapter 2: Strange Ponies

It was a looking like it was going to be another beautiful day in Ponyville as Twilight walk down the street towards Surgercube Corner. She had decided to grab breakfast at the bakery that do and let Spike sleep in as he had been woken up from his sleep by a bright flash of light that shown right into his room. Twilight had come out onto one of the balconies of her castle to see if she could see anything once Spike woke her up and told her. But as far as she could see nothing had changed. So she had sent him off to bed with a promise to look into the matter today with her friends.

“Hey there Twi, you’re out and about rather early. Something up?” Twilight was drawn from her thoughts by a southern accented voice.

Twilight smiled as he looked over at the orange mare with a yellow mane and a cowboy hat planted firmly upon it standing behind a stand piled high with apples. “No, not really Applejack. Just decided to grab breakfast at Surgercube Corner as spike got woke up last night by a bright light.” She said stopping.

“You mean that light that happened well past midnight? Shoot ah think that woke up the entire town.” Applejack said rubbing her chin with a hoof. “Ah ain’t ever seen nothin’ like it before.”

“Did you happen to see where it came from? I promised spike we’d look into it.” Twilight asked.

Applejack responded by shaking her head. “Sorry surgercube but at that hour ah was very much asleep.”

Twilight sighed; it was going to be hard to investigate something when you had no idea where it was. “No problem AJ. We can look around and bit and see if we can find any sign of…whatever it was.” She said smiling

Just then three Fillies ran up to the, one yellow Earth pony with a big red bow in her mane , one white Unicorn and one orange Pegasus. All three of the former Cutie Mark Crusaders were panting as if they had galloped a great distance.

“What in tarnation has gotten into the three of you?” AJ asked as she stepped around apple stand.

The white unicorn spoke up. “We…we were exploring the Everfree Forrest to see if anyone needed help with their Cutie Marks—“

Aj cut her off. “What have I told you three about going anywhere near the Everfree huh? Applebloom you know better!” AJ said looking at the yellow earth pony who was he little sister who was catching her breath.

“Sorry big sis’ we were only trying to help ponies but—“

“Look, girls ah know you are still excited about finally earning your Cutie Marks but that still ain’t no reason to be going into the Everfree, it’s dangerous in there!” AJ interrupted her sister.

“Well tell that to the three ponies we saw in there. “The orange Pegasus, named Scootloo said causing both AJ and Twilight to blink.

“Other ponies?” Twilight asked stepping up to the three fillies. “What other Ponies, someone from Ponyville?”

The unicorn, Sweetiebell shook her head. “No, we’ve never seen them before and they talked funny. The two Stallions were arguing about something that didn’t make a lot of sense to me, and then the mare yelled at them to shut up and follow her. “Sweetiebell said rabidly. “They were heading towards the field outside of Ponyville.

“Huh, strange. “Twilight said thinking. “I think I’ll go meet these ponies.” She turned to AJ. “Can you gather the girls and meet me at the field?” Once AJ gave a nod Twilight spread her wings and took to the air. It wasn’t hard to spot the three ponies in the field next to the ever free, they were the only ones out there and they seemed to be staring at Twilights castle.

Twilight flew towards the three strangers and landed a little ways in front of them and smiled. “Hello, my names Twilight Sparkle, welcome to Ponyville. What’s your names?” She asked in a friendly tone. The three ponies stared at her wide eyed. “Uh…something wrong?” He smile faltered a little bit. Her question seemed to snap them out of something and they didn’t something Twilight hadn’t expected, their eyes got hard and they lowered their bodies slightly as their heads lowered, but they kept their eyes on her as their tails flicked a bit. Twilight blinked and took an involuntary step backwards. She didn’t know why, but the three of them looked ready to attack her. She wanted to check to see look back towards Ponyville to see if her friends were coming but felt if she moved the three strange ponies would attack. It was a bit unnerving how they stared at her, perfectly still watching her every move with their cold hard eyes.

“Easy now…I don’t mean you any harm.” She said trying to calm them.

The mare in the middle spoke. “Who and what the hell are you?” She asked in a slightly deep voice, but one that also reminded her of the Royal Guards in Canterlot.

The question also struck her as odd. “Um…as I said my name is Twilight Sparkle...and I’m an Alicorn.” She said watched them. They didn’t seem to recognize that.

The large tan stallion on the mare right spoke in a deep voice. “What the hell is an Alicorn” He looked at her with colder eyes as if suspecting some kind of trick or trap.

This caused Twilight to blink; they didn’t know what an Alicorn was? Before she could speak again she heard a slightly graveling voice above them. “Hey Twi’ whose your friends?” She looked up to see the cyan and rainbow mane form of Rainbow Dash hoovering above them.

This seemed to cause a bad reaction with the three strange ponies as they looked up at RD as well. “AMBUSH!” She yelled before the three of them lunged towards Twilight. Twilight barely had enough time to jump to the side as the three of them landed right where she had been standing. The three were fast and without missing a step the black stallion pivoted on his hooves and sent an applebuck straight into Twilights chest knocking the air from her lungs as she was sent flying through the air backwards before she could think.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” Rainbow Dash said as she dive bombed the three ponies. Before she could hit them the three jumped clear and her hooves impacted the dirt. She had enough time to look up before the tan stallion bucked her in the face and sent her crashing into one of the trees of the Everfree forest.

By this point Twilight had gotten to her hooves and was taking large gulps of air into her lungs. She looked up to see the white mare charging her with her teeth bared. Once again before Twilight could react the full weight of the mare plowed into her like a train. Using her strength and momentum the mare powered twilight back a few feet before she shifted her movement from forward to up, lifting Twilight off her front hooves the mare planted her hooves on twilights chest and with a heave pushed light completely back till she came crashing down onto her back hard. The Mare’s front hooves came down onto Twilights stomach hard knocking all the air from her body and sending a jolt of pain through it.

A rainbow streak shot out of the bushed by the forest and slammed into the mare’s side sending her rolling. Twilight gasped for breath as she looked up at Rainbow Dash standing over her protectively head down as she growled. “What the hey is wrong with you po—“ RD was cut off as the black stallion was suddenly beside her and delivered a series of swift blows with his fore hooves staggering RD. He then reared up and brought a hoof down on top of RD head and she collapsed onto of Twilight with a groan.

The black stallion backed off a ways and was joined by the tan stallion and the mare that despite being sent rolling didn’t seem injured in the slightest. “Well…that was rather easy.” The black stallion spoke with a soft calm voice glancing at where twilight and RD lay. “They aren’t very well trained. “He said sounded both curious and confused at the same time.

“Yeah that was a pathetic fight.” The tan stallion said glaring over at the two downed mares as if insulted at the fact they were beaten.

“Perhaps they are recruits?” The black stallion offered as he glanced at the mare he was looking at Twilight and RD as they slowly started to collect themselves.

She trotted over and shoved twilight back down with her hoof, moving it to her throat and applying a bit of pressure making it hard for Twilight to breathe as the tan one pinned Rainbow Dash. The mare glared down at her, her eyes not filled with hate, but determination and Twilight could practically see the gear turning in her head. “I’m going to ask you some questions; you are going to answer them, all of them, with the truth. If I even think you are lying to me or hiding something…” The pressure on Twilights throat increased and she couldn’t breathe. After a few seconds the mare had made her point and released some of the pressure so Twilight could take shallow breaths. “Now then…who are you?”

It was hard to speak with her throat being crushed but she managed to barely speak above a whisper. “T-Twilight Sparkle...” The mare nodded.

“What are you?”

“I-I’m an A-Alicorn...” She gasped out. The mare tilted her head slightly.

“What is an Alicorn?” The mare asked, saying the word as if it was very unfamiliar.

This confused Twilight a lot, how could they not know what an Alicorn was? “I-It is…” Twilight was cut off as a lasso suddenly looked around the head of the mare. Her face showed surprise a second before the rope tightened and she was yanked off of Twilight.

“Come ‘ere varmints. Where do you get off attacking mah friends?” The voice of Applejack said as Twilight sucked in a mouth full of air and couched now that her throat wasn’t being crushed.

She looked over and saw the mare on her stomach the lasso around her head and beyond that she saw Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.

“Yeah you meany-meany-pants!” Pinkie pie said in her happy voice.

The mare glared at them, then to Twilight and her friends surprise slipped her front hooves into the lasso and loosed it before slipping her head out and taking the same stance she had taken when the three ponies first saw Twilight. Looking She saw that the Tan stallion remained pinning RD but the black stallion walked over the mare. “I still think these are merely recruits, there fighting is terrible.” He said in his calm soft voice.

“I don’t care, they attacked us.” She said and growled.

The black stallion sighed. “You do have a point captain.” He said as he got into the same fighting stance as the mare his eyes going from calm to hard and determined as soon as he was in it.

Captain? What did the stallion mean calling the mare captain? Was that her name…or was it a rank. And what did they mean that they were attacked? Rainbow Dash and Twilight hadn’t done anything…except RD had suddenly been above them. Twilights eyes widened with realization. These ponies didn’t seem to know where they were, they were lost and confused and suddenly a Pegasus was above them and an Alicorn was in front of them! They must have thought they were under attack and were defending themselves.

The mare started to move to leap at Twilights friends. “Stop!” She cried out as she used her magic to grab the mare’s tail. She had already been moving to leap and having her tail suddenly held in place cause her to fall flat on her face.

Twilight slowly got to her hooves as the mare did the same, spitting out first and grass. “What the hell?” She said looking back at her tail still gripped in Twilights magic. She gave a small tug. “Enemy Mage!” She cried out and the black stallion leapt to the side before twilight could grab him and when she looked towards the tan stallion he was already moving as well, straight at her. Twilight barely got her shield spell up in time and the stallion bounced off it with a grunt. He glared at her through the shield.

“Stop, we are not your enemy, this is all a misunderstanding. “Twilight said.

“Bullshit, you attacked us, you are the enemy.” The mare said glaring at her, the black stallion seeming to have vanished from sight.

Twilight heard a gasp of indignation from Rarity when the mare swore and Twilight took a deep breath and let it out. “No, I came out here to greet you and asked my friends to come as well. I’m sorry if Rainbow Dash startled you. That wasn’t our intention. We are not your enemies. “To show she was being sincere Twilight let the mare’s tail go and dropped her shield.

The mare glared at her but Twilight could see the gears turning once again. Slowly her eyes softened slightly. “Stand down. “She barked and with that the tan stallion relaxed and the black stallion stepped out of the bushes near the trees of the Everfree Forest and walked up to the mare as did the tan stallion. They sat on their haunches. “Ok then Miss Alicorn I have one more question for you.” She said and Twilight looked at her and nodded. “Where the hell are we?”

Author's Note

The moral of the chapter: Never surprise three trained war horses!

also I know I probably represented Applejack's accent terrible. I honestly ant think of how to spell most of what she says in a manner that shows her accent. So I did what I could and left rest for now.

Chapter 3: Introductions

Deep in the Everfree Forest a steel wrapped figure slowly got to its feet. Captain Grive al’Tera slowly looked at the forest around him blinking the spots from his eyes caused by the bright sun shining into his eyes when he opened them. His grip on his sword tightened as he tried to make sense of how he got from a last stand in a temple at night to a forest at mid-day. The Republic wouldn’t have left him here; they’d either have executed him on the spot to keep him as a prisoner to interrogate later, though unlikely as even the lowest ranking soldier is trained to resist all known forms of interrogation.

No the lack of any sign of an army having moved through here, and the fact he still was armed an armored meant he wasn’t captured, and there was that bright light he saw just before he lost conciseness told him this wasn’t the work of the Republic. Someone or something else did this.

A twig snapping to his left caused Grive to raise his sword, ready to attack whatever it was that was moving towards him.

A woman dressed in black and silver armor stumbled out of the bushes holding a crossbow to her chest. She looked up and her eyes were filled with relief upon seeing Captain al’Tera. “Captain!” She put her fist over the small raven taking flight over her heart in a salute.

“Report.” Grive said as he kept his eyes on the surrounding forest still holding his sword at his side.

The crossbowomen licked her lips. “um…I’ve been awake for about ten minutes now and been walking for about five. You’re the first person I’ve seen since waking up captain.” She said standing straighter. Grive nodded, about what he’d expected.

“At ease…”He looked at her.

“Tasil” She filled in and Grive nodded.

“If you are here Tasil then that means any other survivors should be too, though it seems we are scatter. Our first priority is finding anyone else who survived.” He told her, normally he wouldn’t explain things as he did but they were in an unknown situation and it was better to steady Tasil’s nerves by showing things were under control even if they weren’t fully. Tasil nodded as expected and Grive turned and started walking in the same direction she had been with her falling in behind him crossbow at the ready without needing to be ordered to do so.

<<>>

Storm Chaser stared at the strange purple horned and winged horse that had called herself an ‘Alicorn’ by the name of Twilight Sparkle, She knew she was taking a risk in not pressing the attack but the thing had dropped its shield when it could have kept it up and done who knows what else with its magic and they needed information and beating it out of them would take too long, though the option was still on the table till further notice.

Twilight blinked at her as dud the rainbow maned winged horse beside her and the other group of horses looking confused. They all looked stranger to Storm Chaser being multi-colored some with wings, one with a horn and one even wore a hat! What kind of a horse wore a hat?

“well…you’re at the edge of the Everfree Forest near the town of Ponyville.” Twilight spoke a bit slowly eyeing her and her companions wearily, seems she was trying to avoid another fight.

Storm Chaser tilted her head. “Ponyville?” She looked back at the two Stallions and they both shrugged so She looked back at Twilight.

“Yes, it’s the town over there. “Twilight pointed and winced a bit; seemed buck Dark Night had given her at the start of the fight was still hurting her. Storm Chaser looked where she had pointed her hoof at the small colorful town with the large crystal castle beyond it.

Storm Chaser nodded and eyed the other strange horse and pointed a hoof at them. “And they are?” She looked at Twilight.

“My friends, um…why don’t you introduce yourselves girls?” Twilight looked at them all.

The cyan and rainbow maned winged horse stepped force with a slight glare at Storm Chaser and her three companions “I’m Rainbow Dash.” She said, it was clear she was rather mad about having been beaten so easily by Dark Night.

An orange horse with a yellow mane and three apples on her flank stepped forward and spoke with a strange accent. “My names Applejack. “She eyed them with suspicion Storm Chaser noted.

Then the white horned horse with a purple mane and three diamonds on her flank stepped up and spoke with an accent that Storm chaser was also unfamiliar with. “I’m Rarity, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance…”She said leaving the air open for Storm Chaser and her companions to fill with their names, a fact they ignored and she gave a sigh.

The small yellow winged horse with the pink mane and butterflies on her flanked just squeezed and hid behind her mane whimpering. Storm Chaser wasn’t sure what to make of that so she merely shrugged and looked at the aggressively pink horse with strange circles on her flanks that was bouncing up and down of all things. “HI I’m Pinkie Pie! IT’s super good to meet you and I can’t wait to throw you a welcome to Ponyville and thanks for stopping beating up our friends party!” She said in one breath judging by the fact she had to take a deep breath after speaking. The fact she had been bouncing around her and the two stallions while speaking was unsettling to Storm Chaser to say the least.

Storm chaser looked back at Twilight who was looking at them expectantly, wasn’t hard to figure out she was waiting for their names. Storm Chaser pointed at Gorp. “Gorp.” Then to Dark Night. “Dark Night.” Then at herself. “Storm Chaser.” Twilight looked as if she expected more but as the second ticked by she realized Storm Chaser was done speaking.

“Well…I guess we should all head to Ponyville rather than continue to talk out here.” She said a bit hesitantly and Storm Chaser nodded, it would be easier to figure things out at the town and maybe their Riders were there, humans were always in towns.

As Twilight and her friends started to walk Storm Chaser got to her hooves. “Form up! “She barked and the two stallions did so, this earned the three odd looks from Twilight and her friends and Storm Chaser just looked back till they group started walking again with Strom Chaser, Gorp and Dark Night following behind them

<<>>

Twilight lead her friends and the three strange ponies into Ponyville. She winced a bit as she walked still hurting from the short fight with the Storm Chaser and her friends. She had never seen ponies react that way and it made her nervous how easily the three of them had beaten her and Rainbow Dash, Rainbow was grumbling under hear breath about it as she walked behind Twilight.

The way the three of them acted was very strange. Glancing back at the three of them walking behind her friends she could see their eyes constantly shifting as if expecting an attack any second. As if knowing Twilight was looking Storm Chaser’s eyes met Twilight’s with that same intensity she had had back when she has been asking Twilight her questions when she had her pinned down. Twilight knew she was ready to launch into another attack within a second.

“Something wrong?” Storm Chaser asked, her voice was cold and twilight realized she was staring as they walked.

“Oh...um…no nothing.” Twilight said blushing a bit in embarrassment at having been just staring at her group and she looked forward again. She noticed that other ponies in the town was eyeing the three new comers with curiosity but thankfully no one moved to speak to them as Twilight wasn’t sure how’d they react.

“They seem like a friendly bunch.” Rarity said as she walked up beside Twilight, keeping her voice low.

“Yeah they seem so sad ill need to make their party super extra fun.” Pinkie said on Twilights other side, thankfully keeping her voice low as well.

“And what party are you talking about?” Twilight and her three friends jumped a bit as Storm Chaser spoke up from the rear of the group and Twilight looked back seeing her once more focused on her, ears forward the other two still scanning their surroundings.

Pinkie was the first to recover and bounced over to the three of them. “I told you silly your ‘welcome to Ponyville and thank you for stopping beating up our friends’ party!” Pinkie said bouncy around the three causing them to stop eyes tracking her.

“That sounds like a dumb reason to celebrate.” The tan one, Gorp said and pinkie stop bouncing looking at him and opened her mouth to say something but she was cut off by Dark Night.

“Come now Gorp, clearly it is their custom and how they welcome guests, which we are currently. It’s only polite we attend.” He said calmly and Gorp looked at him.

“Still a stupid reason and why should I even go?”

“Because it is polite.” Dark Night responded as he looked at Pinkie. “Forgive my companion miss Pie; he doesn’t know the slightest thing about being polite.” He bowed his head slight and Gorp gave an annoyed grunt and started to open his mouth to speak.

“Shut up both of you.” Storm Chaser said sounding annoyed as she glared at the two of them who went quiet before looking back at Twilight. “Now I believe you were leading us somewhere so we could talk?”

Twilight nodded and turned to start walking again. “RUN AWAY CART!” twilight looked up the road ad saw a cart loaded down with creates speeding down the hill. Her eyes went wide as she saw Applebloom, Sweetiebelle and Scootloo right in its path looking up at the cart baring down on them eyes going wide the three fillies turned to try to get out of the way but they weren’t going to make it. Twilight horn started glow as she began to cast a spell as fast as she could then a white blur shot past Twilight and her friends and she watched as Storm Chaser shoved the three fillies out of the way then started to brace herself but wasn’t able to get her hooves under herself completely before the cart struck her.

Author's Note

If the characters are acting a bit wrong I apologize. Im trying to think of how they'd react to the situation they are in.

Chapter 4: Scouts

Captain Grive al’Tera and what remained of his soldier’s stood at the edge of the forest looking into a large apple orchard. Over the last few hours he and Tasil had wandered the strange woods looking for their comrades and slowly found them either by themselves or already in small groups ding the same. Grive was pleased to see that of the fifteen men and women who had remained for the final stand had all survived with only a few minor injuries added to their already injured bodies all except for one. Grive turned away from the view of the orchard and looked back at the horse back swordsman who laid on a make shift stretcher taking slowly ragged breaths. He had been found unconscious lying in the bushes and despite their best efforts they couldn’t wake him.

“How is he?” Grive asked his fellow swordsmen who were tending to them; none of them were healers and only had basic training in the art. One of them looked up from their comrade and they didn’t need to say it, their face told Grive all he needed to know. “Damnit.” He said and slammed his fist into one of the twisted trees hard enough to cause it to shake. It was one thing to loose soldiers during combat, that was inevitable, but it was completely different to lose them because you failed to get them the aide they required fast enough after the battle.

Grive turned to the two scouts that were within his group. “Go, find out where the hell we are, report back in an hour. Do not be seen.” The two saluted and one sprinted into the woods while the other sprinted into the orchard, it didn’t take long for Grive to loose site of them, they were trained to vanish into any environment and avoid detection everything except for the strongest of detection spells. He sighed and turned back to the injured man, it was going to be a long hour.

<<>>

Storm Chaser trotted though a field of grass, her ride walking beside her. She was almost as tall as his shoulder. “I see someone is enjoying her exercise today. “He said and smiled as his hand his hand along her neck. She tossed her head and flicked her tail. “Oh? Is that how it is?” He chuckled. “Well then let’s see if you’ve can beat me yet. “He said and before she could blink he took off running leaving Storm Chaser to gallop after him. She always enjoyed racing her rider; it was one of her favorite things to do though these days he always lost.

It didn’t take long for Storm Chaser to overtake him as she galloped ahead.

BEEP

Storm chaser skidded to a halt and looked around, what had that sound been.

BEEP

There it was again. She looked back at her rider and froze, he wasn’t anywhere in site.

BEEP BEEP BEEP “her heart rate is increasing”

Storm Chaser galloped for all she was worth back the way she came. She had to find him!

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP “don’t let her hurt herself.”

Slowly the green field blurred and the grass be neither her hooves was replaced by cobble stones, the open air around her replaces by burning building, the smell of smoke filled her nose. Her armor tight against her body, she had to fine him!

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP “She’s waking up, get the nurse now!”

Storm Chasers eyes shot open and she was looking at the face of a white mare beside her. Out of instinct Storm Chaser shot her hooves out catching the horse in the chest sending her staggering back and cause pain to shoot up her left for leg which had a hard white casing on it. She gritted her teeth in pain; whoever this was she wasn’t getting the drop of Storm Chaser.

“Captain calm down, it’s alright; Nurse Readheart is not an enemy.” The voice of Dark Night said from the other side of her and Storm Chaser relaxed and fell back into the bed she was laying in. She took this time to look where she was.

She was in a small white room with a window looking out onto the town of Ponyville. A strange contraption that was making a beeping noise was beside the bed and attached to her by thin strands of something. There was a door opposite the window and she saw Gorp standing beside it. Beside the bed was Dark Night. “What happened?” She asked, her head was pounding and she left was still sending shots of pain along her nerves.

“You saved three fillies lives, that’s what happened. “The white horse with a hat that had a red cross on it now that Storm chase actually look at her better said as she got to her hooves and took a few deep breaths. “Honestly I’m surprised you were able to do that, most ponies would barely be able to move after being run over by a cart loaded with furniture and other knick-knacks.” She said walking back over to the bed side and looking down at Storm Chaser. “Honestly, they’d be far more injured as well.”

“Nurse Redheart I assume?” Storm Chaser asked and the horse nodded. “What of the fillies?”

“A few scrapes and bruises, considering what would have happened if not for your quick action they are fine.” Redheart said smiling. “You are a hero Mrs. Chaser.” Storm Chaser tilted her head at that. A hero? Her? That didn’t make any sense, she just did what her Rider would have wanted her to do and most likely any of the other black and silver humans would have done seeing young ones in such danger.

“It seems this town has been talking non-stop about what you’ve done and are planning to honor you captain.” Dark Night informed her.

“Yes they are, Mayor Mare is planning on giving you an aware once you’ve recovered.” Read heart said.

“Where am I?” Storm Chaser asked looking out the window.

“Ah, you’re at Ponyville General Hospital, you were brought here after what happened along with the fillies. Your two friends haven’t left this room since you were brought it and have been glaring at all the staff that has come to check on you. And before you ask it’s been a couple of hours, it amazes me you are awake at all after such a short time.” Redheart said looking over Storm chaser. “I’ve never seen anypony take a hit like you and recover this fast and not seem concerned with it.”

“Why should I concern myself with it?” Chaser asked.

“Because you were run over by a cart?” Redheart said staring at her.

Storm Chaser just shrugged. “Didn’t kill me so it doesn’t matter.” She said simply. Redheart stared at her

“Yes…well you seem fine to me for now and I have other duties to attend to. Also I believe Applejack, Rarity, and Princess Twilight along with the fillies have been waiting for you to wake up so they could thank you. I’ll let them know you are awake and stable if you don’t mind.” Nurse Redheart said and Storm Chaser just shrugged and the nurse left the room.

<<>>

Twilight walked down the hall towards Storm Chaser’s room followed by Applejack and Rarity then behind them were Scootloo, Applebloom and Sweetiebell. The three fillies had been released from the hospital after a short check up to make sure they were ok after having been shoved out of the way by Storm Chaser, despite the mare being able to deliver powerful blows with her hooves she seemed to have control over how much force was behind the blows as she hadn’t even bruised the filled when she pushed then to safety. This was impressive considering she only had seconds to do so before the cart struck.

Twilight was surprised at how fast Storm Chaser had acted though not as much as she would have been had she not fought with her earlier that day, The mare was fast both mentally and physically. Twilight had to admit she had been concerned about the three ponies do to how they had reacted to meeting her but, after what they had done, both Storm Chaser saving the former Crusaders and the two stallions stopping the cart by delivering precise applebucks to the side of it in perfect unison causing it to flip onto its side before it could hurt anypony else had put the three in a whole new light.

Twilight and her group reached Storm Chasers room and she knocked politely. “Come” She heard Storm Chaser say and the group of ponies entered the room. The first thing Twilight notice was that Dark Night was standing beside the bed watching the room, and that Gorp was doing the same from beside the door. These ponies seemed to expect an attack to come at any moment no matter where they were. “Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, fillies.” Storm Chaser said looking at each of them in turn her hospital bed.

The former Crusaders stared at the three ponies with wide eyes. Even they seemed to be intimidated by the strange ponies. “You are so AWESOME!” Scootleloo yelled and the three fillies ran and jumped onto the bed. Or maybe they were just in awe of the three it seemed. Twilight moved to try and get the fillies away from Storm Chaser before she had another reaction like she did at the edge of the Everfree but stopped as the mare smiled at the three fillies.

“Awesome? Can’t say that I’m familiar with that word. What does it mean?” She asked as she scratched her chin with her right hoof, her left leg being in a cast.

“It mean…um..that you are cool…radical…awesome!, not as awesome as Rainbow Dash of course but still awesome.” Scootloo said excitedly.

“Well, im going to assume that it’s not an insult then. “Storm chase said chuckling as she patted the orange Pegasus filly’s head.

“Yeah, the way you moved so fast and jumped in front of that cart! I never seen an earth pony move so fast. And they way your friends stopped the cart, it was amazing!” Applebloom joined it.

“just doing our duty little miss.” Dark Night said smiling at the filly. Both he and Gorp had visibly relaxed when the filled jumped on to Storm Chaser’s bed. They still scanned the room but the air of intimidation was gone like it had never been there before.

Twilight couldn’t help but stare. It was like they were three completely different ponies in the presence of the fillies. Not three hard and cold ponies read to attack anything that moved, but three simple ponies just enjoying the day like everypony else.

“You have got to show us how you got to be so fast!” Scootloo went on.

“Well it takes years of training and practice, the being used to carrying heavy armor and a Rider. Without them we are able to move much more freely.” Storm chaser said with a big smile. Twilight found what she said a bit odd but this was the first time she’d seen the three of them not ready to attack something so she remained quiet while the three fillies talked with Storm Chaser. Only being interrupted by Dark Night and Gorp a few times to offer comment. The three fillies mostly talked about how amazing the three ponies were.

After about an hour Applejack and Rarity spoke up explain to the fillies that Storm Chaser should rest some and then they both thanked her for saving their sisters before they bid their good byes. Much to the sadness of the three fillies who wanted to stay. They asked if Storm Chaser would like to hang out at their club house some time and once more to Twilights surprise Storm Chaser agreed happily.

Applejack and Rarity ushered out the former Crusaders and as soon as the door shut the easy going mood of the room vanished and was replaced by the one of intimidation once again and the three ponies looked at her. Twilight swallowed, having the three of them patchily glaring at her as if expecting an attack was a bit unnerving. “So…how are you feeling?”

“Fine.” Was the reply from the mare. Gone was the warm and friendly mare as if she never existed in the first place and was the cold and calculating Captain Storm Chaser. Though what she was a captain of Twilight had no clue and didn’t want to pry in case it set the three ponies off. Though there was one question on twilights mind she needed to ask.

“What happened when Scootleoo, Applebloom and Sweetiebell where here?” She asked.

“What do you mean?” Storm Chaser asked tilting her head in a way Twilight had come to recognize as a sign she was thinking.

“It was like you three were completely different ponies. Not these…cold ponies. But warm and friendly like normal ponies.” She explained.

“Young ones were present. Are you implying we would want to terrified three fillies into cowering before us?” Storm Chaser asked her eyes narrowing as a thread of anger entered her voice.

“No, no that’s not what I meant. It’s just…it was surprising is all.” Twilight finished lamely.

Storm Chaser started for a while before she shook her head. “You are one strange horse.”

“Pony.”

“Excuse me?”

“We are ponies, not horses same as you.”

“Ponies?” Storm chaser looked between her two companions who looked equally confused before she looked back at Twilight. “Explain.”

“Um…” Twilight said unsure. She was just as confused as they seemed to be. “Well…we are all ponies here, colorful, peaceful ponies. Just like you three.” Twilight winced when she remember how these three ponies had easily beaten both herself and Rainbow Dash in a short fight. The three looked at each other once more then back to her and Storm Chaser gestured for her to continue.

All in all it took about two hours to finish explain do to all the interruptions from the three of them asking questions but after she was done Storm Chaser asked her to go and let her rest. Not wanting to upset the mare twilight bid her farewell and made her way out of the hospital.

As she walked down the street she caught site of a dark figure moving down an alleyway between two houses but when she looked there was nothing there. As she turned back she thought she caught a glimpse of another dark figure on a roof but when she looked there was just simple air. Shrugging it off Twilight continues on her way.

Author's Note

So how is everyone enjoying the story so far?

Chapter 1: Strange New World and Bodies

Storm Chaser watched as the lead human gave his speech before the other humans dressed in black and silver not really paying much attention, she didn’t really pay much attention to any of the humans except for her Rider, but he was special and shed known him all her life, he took care of her and she took care of him and that was all that mattered to her, though now she had to take extra care of him as half his face was covered in tight white cloth. Shed need to watch his blind side for him so he didn’t get hurt more.

Storm Chaser glanced at the two stallions that stood beside their own riders, read to defend them as she defended her Rider, though with a bit more ease as their riders weren’t half blind like hers. Her ears shot up as there was a loud crash from in front of where her and the humans stood and she looked ahead to see a wave of other humans dressed in blues and green running at them, weapons gleaming in the torch light of the building they were in. Why they were fighting them she didn’t know, the only difference she could see was they wore a different color but that was a silly reason to fight. But the why didn’t matter, what matter was they wanted to hurt her Rider and she wasn’t going to let that happen.

The human gave the loud roar they always did before battle and then everything was a blur to Storm Chaser as she stayed close to her Rider, protecting his blind spot by lashing out with hoof and teeth and even tail in a few cases at the blue and green humans. She didn’t have time to really think that it was a hopeless fight, all that matter was keeping her Rider safe.

Slowly her and her rider and the other black and silver humans were pushed back onto the raised platform behind them, it would be so much easier if her Rider was in his saddle on her back or that they were outside on proper ground, not his slick floor they fought upon now but her rider and the other black and silver humans had run in her for some reason and so this is where they fought. She was vaguely aware of a light behind them but before she could look a blue and green human tried to attack her ride so she reared up and brought her fore hooves down upon his head with a loud clang like a bell being stuck, she gave him a few more stops to make sure he didn’t get back up before turning to face the next threat to her Rider, but she couldn’t see, the light behind her was to bright and she had to close her eye tightly. This wasn’t good, if she couldn’t see then she couldn’t protect her Rider’s blind side, and if she couldn’t defend his blindside then he would die, and if he died she didn’t know what she’d do. She could lash out even with her eyes close but then she risked striking her Rider and that couldn’t be done.

Before she could think of what to do there was the sound of a roaring wind and a wave of nausea overcame her and she felt her legs give out from under her as her saddle and armor started to get heavier and heavier. She swayed as the nausea feeling grew and grew till everything went black.

<<<>>>

Storm Chaser floated in blackness for what seemed like an eternity. It felt nice; the battle had been so tiring and the grass under her felt so nice and soft…wait…what battle? Grass? All in a rush Storm Chaser’s memory returned of the battle in the temple and her eyes shot open and she jumped to her hooves, or tried to. The morning sun blinded her and her legs didn’t move right so she succeeded in flopping over onto her other side. “Ow…”She said squeezing her eyes shut to keep the blinding light out, how long had she been asleep? It had been night when her and her Rider and the others had retreated into the temple. Wait, who was it that spoke? The voice had been clearly female if slightly on the lower pitch and whoever it was had spoken right when she flopped over onto her other side causing a bit of a jar…was it her? “No that would be crazy.” She said and her eyes shot open ignoring the painful light as she spoke.

She tried to look at her mouth as she worked it, noticing her snout was much short, a lot shorter actually. She licked her lips. “Ok…this…this is really weird.” She said again jumping a bit at the sound of her own voice.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she hear a groan from behind her and looked back to see a small tan…Horse laying in the grass behind her in armor that was much too big for it. She blinked recognizing the armor and saddle as one of the other horses that had been with her and the other black and silver humans in the temple, why was the small horse trying to wear the armor and laying on its side. Come to think of it where was her armor?

Taking her eyes off the little horse she looked back at herself and blinking seeing her armor right where it should be, only it was much too big for her now. “Ok…things…are getting stranger.” She jumped again when she spoke, that was going to take some getting used to. Slowly she managed to wiggle out of the confines of her much too big armor and saddle and got to her hooves slowly. She shook herself a bit as she stood there focusing on not falling down. Her body felt…strange, very strange.

Looking at herself as best as she could and saw why, this wasn’t her body, least not how it used to be. Her coat was shorter and was no longer white with random splotched of brown, it was just white, the brown was now in her tail which used to just be a dark grey but now was dark gray and brown. Carefully looking she was her mane matched her tail. Looking down at her hooves she saw that they were covered in her short white fur now so you couldn’t tell where her leg s ended and her hooves began.

“Who are you?” A deep male voice said behind her making Storm Chaser jump and spin around taking the fighting stance she took to defend her Rider. She was greeted by the same small tan horse she had seen earlier now with its head up, still in the too big armor and looking very confused as he worked his mouth. “Did…I say that?” He said blinking in confusion.

“Yes, yes you did.” Storm Chaser said relaxing a bit, she only partly jumped at her own voice; it was comforting to know she wasn’t the only one confused by talking horses. She still needed to figure out who this stallion was. “Who are you?” She asked blinking at the slight tone of her voice, it carried the hint of a threat to it, granted she was ready to attack this stallion if she needed to but it was strange to have it reflect in her voice, though still strange to have a voice at all.

“I’m Gorp, who are you?” The stallion asked looking at her with hardness to his eye.

“I’m the one asking the questions here, that’s who.” Storm chaser barked back and blinked as her tone was that she only heard from humans like the one that gave the speech before the battle, the tone that made the humans stiffen and jump to do as told. It somewhat had the same effect on the stallion, Gorp more or less, he stiffened a bit but the defiance never left his eyes.

“Now then where are we and....and where is my Rider!” Storm Chaser demanded that same authoritative tone in her voice.

The stallion blinked. “He the hell should I know where we are and where your rider is, I’m more concerned about my Rider then some crazy mare in the middle of the forest.” Gorp said. “He’s in danger, we were in a battle against the blue and green humans and I’m not there to protect him.” This caused Storm Chaser to blink.

“Battle? Were you with the black and silver humans, in a building with a raised platform in the middle and the one human gave a speech?” This got a blink and a nod from Gorp and Storm sat on her haunches tilting her head trying to figure this out. She didn’t remember seeing this small tan horse anywhere in the building, there had been a tan stallion standing with one of the other Riders, but that was it….Storm blinked and looked at the stallion. The too big armor, the tan fur, riders…She looked at her own armor which was too big for her now. “Somethings….changed us...”She said carefully. Something made them smaller and altered their bodies, but what?

“Well good, glad I’m not the only one who noticed.” Said a male somewhat quiet voice from a bush making both Storm and Gorp, who at some point while she was thinking had gotten out of his too big armor, to jump back and take the same fighting stance. “There is no need for that, I am not your enemy, I seem to be in the same situation you are.” The bushes moved and a pure black stallion stepped out of them, he was slightly smaller and thinner than the tan stallion who was more on the muscular side.

“Who the hell are you?” Gorp demanded threw gritted teeth.

“My name is Dark Night, and it seemed whatever changed you, changed me as well. “ Dark Night said, his voice not rising in the slightest as he stared at the two of them. “I think it may have something to do with that bright light during the battle.”

“Oh yeah< And why the hell do you think that huh?” Gorp snarled not leaving his stance.

“Because the flash happened and then I woke up here in a body that was not my normal one and without my rider, it is the only theory that makes sense.” Dark night replied looking between the both of them. “Unless one of you has a theory that makes more sense?” Storm Chaser had to admit, it was the only thing that made sense and if Dark Night meant them any harm he could have attacked any time from that bush rather than speak and walk out so she relaxed, after a few more moment Gorp relaxed as well but he kept an eye on both Storm Chaser and Dark Night. Dark night slowly approached her. “I’m assuming you are in charge?” HE asked and Storm Chaser blink looking at him tilting her head.

“What? Why would you think that? “She asked eyeing him.

“Well for one you speak in the manner of an Officer and there is that. “He said pointing at her flank. She looked back noticing an image on it she hadn’t noticed before while she was looking her body over before Gorp interrupted her. It was the image of a silver raven taking flight, the same that was on the chest of her Rider and the banners of the place they lived. Under it was another smaller raven with its wings fully spread as if it were flying and seen from above, she’d only seen that symbol on the chest of the human who gave the speech before the battle in the exact same spot under the Silver raven taking flight over his heart. “That, is the symbol of a Captain in the Empire’s army, neither me nor Gorp have it. “He said gesturing to his own flank which had the Silver raven taking flight and under it the image of a Raven low to the ground as if sneaking.

Storm Chaser looked over at Gorp who was looking at his own flank which had the same silver raven but the smaller raven had its wings out and claws out stretched as if attacking something. She looked back at dark night. “How do you know what it mean, and what empire and what’s an Officer?” She asked tilting her head to the other side.

“My Rider doesn’t really like to talk to other humans so he talks to me about many things such as the empire and his military career. I don’t know everything mind you but I know a bit about the Empire and what a Captain is, My Rider spoke very highly of him and the same symbol he wore now adorns your flank which must mean you are a Captain and an officer in the Empire’s military which we are a part of. “Dark Night said nodding. “Even if not in the same capacity as the humans.”

Storm Chaser just stared at the strange black stallion before she finally spoke. “Eh?” Was all she could say having no idea what he was talking about? He sighed looking at the ground shaking his head.

“The point is as far as I am concerned you are in charge of this little group.” HE said and muttered under his breath something that sounded like “We’re being led by an idiot…”

“Um….excuse me, what’s with saying she’s in charge? Who the hell went and made her the boss?” Gorp asked walking up to the two of them.

“Simple, the fact she has an officer’s insignia on her flank means she’s in charge.” Dark Night said looking at him.

“Well what if I want to be in charge huh? I think I’d make a much better leader!”
“Are you questioning her rank? She is an officer and us her subordinates till told otherwise by someone above her.
“Bull shit there is only one person I listen to and he isn’t here now and there is no way in hell I’m taking orders from someone else.”
“It’s how the military works!”
“I don’t give a damn about ‘how the military works’ I’m not taking orders from anyone here.”
“You are in complete disregard for the Empire’s protocols that have been put in place for a reason!” Dark Night shoved his face into Gorp’s face. “An action that is punishable by death.
Gorp pushed back. “Oh yeah and just who is going to deliver that huh? You? I’d love to see you---“

“SHUT THE HELL UP BOTH OF YOU!” Storm Chaser yelled, her eye’s narrow as she glared at the two arguing stallion with the look of someone signing a death warrant. To her surprise they obeyed and shut up. “Finally! You two were giving me a headache.” Though out their argument that had been growing louder and louder Storm Chaser had felt her left eye start to twitch as she watched. “Now that I have you attention, we have to figure out where the hell we are and then find our riders. Unless you two have a better idea what to do FORM UP!” She barked as she turned and started walking in a random direction, leaving the armor behind as it didn’t fit. Like two children who had just gotten a stern talking to by their mother the two stallions fell in on her flanks and followed. Gorp slightly back and on her right while Dark Night was on her left and even with Gorp, and both of them a whole head behind her. And like that they walked off into the woods to try and figure out where they were and what was going on.

It wasn’t long before they finally cleared the forest and walked out into and open field of grass. It had been a walk that thankfully had been spent in silence after the two stallions bickering earlier. Storm Chaser wasn’t sure what came over her but listening to the two of them fight about her as if she wasn’t there had gotten her blood boiling and shed just snapped. She had always had a temper before but something about being able to talk made her actually able to express it. Either way it had gotten the result she wanted, the two of them shut up and started doing something productive rather than standing around arguing and that lead to them actually getting out of the forest and into a field where they could actually see something.

What the three of them saw was a small own in the distance with multi-colored houses with hay roofs and further behind them was a large castle seemingly made out of crystals. The three of them stared at it dumb founded as it didn’t look like anything they’d ever seen before. “I…I don’t think we are in the Empire anymore. “Dark night said and Storm Chaser had to agree, the castle looked nothing like anything shed ever seen before, not the angular stone buildings of her home, nor the wooden but basic colorings of the city they had fought in.

The three of them were so transfixed by the sight before them they didn’t notice a purple dot that was growing as it flew towards them before landing before them. “Hello, my names Twilight Sparkle, welcome to Ponyville. What’s your names?”

Author's Note

And now we are introduced to the main Protagonists of this little story.