Equestria Undone

Gary looked around the nearby trees and saw a single phoenix sitting in a nest. Cool looking bird. I wonder how the phoenix came to be, magic most likely. He thought. He returned to the small camp they would be calling home for a while. Two sleeping bags, a supply of plants and their armor was all they took with them when they left Zecora's hut days earlier. Zecora had been teaching Gary his entire life on how to brew like she could, so by the time they had been camping about a day they had brewed dozens of potions. Zecora was cooking dinner, even though it as only early evening. Gary went to lie down by the fire, after a moment he asked "Why do we have to stay out here again?" Zecora looked very irritated as if he had asked this question about twenty times "I told you already, to stay safe and to teach you to survive in the wilderness. It is what we must do" she answered. The same answer as last time I asked. he thought. He rolled over on his back and looked to the first stars appearing in the night sky. "Mom, you think its hard for Princess Luna to arrange the stars and raise the moon?" Zecora thought for a moment before answering "I think she has done it for so long that she doesn't even need to try to make such a beautiful night" Gary nodded satisfied with the answer. After a few minutes more how asked "Why are we camping so close to Canterlot?" Zecora answered "So we can help Twilight and the others if necessary" Again Gary stared at the stars in deep thought. He looked to the moon just coming into the sky and he said "It is such a nice night" Zecora agreed as she gave him a bowl of stew. The two of them began to eat when Celestia, Luna and seven Wonderbolt's flew overhead. They were heading north, towards the mountains. Gary thought Huh? Where are they off to?

Collosus stepped into the castle. The inside was damaged from an ancient battle and dust covered everything. He looked over the inside and said "Now if I was Celestia where would I hide my essence?" He looked around, after a few minutes His eyes fell upon a sun carved onto the wall. He snapped his claws and went to it. He pushed on it and a door opened before him. He stepped into a room with a single glass jar the size of a watermelon sitting on a pedestal. Inside was a dark swirling energy. He grabbed the jar and broke it. The dark energy went into Collosus, his muscles became bulging and solid looking, his eyes glowed like miniature suns and the horns on his head grew longer. "Finally!! I am whole again!!" He yelled to the world. He flew out of the castle and was halfway to the mountain cave that was his base, when someone sucker bucked him in the face. The dragon was knocked from the sky and landed on the ground below very ungracefully, carving a swath the ground and stopping only when he hit a tree. Luna and Celestia landed on the ground near him. Seven Wonderbolts landed in formation behind them. Collosus got to his feet "That was rude you know. If I recall, flying isn't illegal" he said looking annoyed, but surprisingly unhurt for the 100 yards of ground he dug up with his face when he landed. Celestia and Luna stood firm "No it isn't, but your other crimes are reason enough to warrant deadly force. Surrender and go to Tarterus or Luna and I shall destroy you once and for all!" Celestia yelled.The dragon looked mildly amused, like she told a joke that was a little funny five years ago. He lifted his staff and sent a beam of red energy at Celestia. She matched it with her own and Luna added her power to it. The beams collided mid air and made a pulsating ball of energy that exploded between them. That got the Dragons attention and he sent more power blasts at them but together they deflected them. They surrounded themselves in energy and rammed into Collosus who surrounded himself in a similar energy field. They rammed each other back and forth for a minute or so before Celestia and Luna got the upper hoof on him. Together they pushed him into a large tree, but he stamped the ground with the bud of his staff and a strong force push knocked them both back away from him. The Wonderbolts surged forward but he did it again and they were knocked back. Collosus looked worried now as he slowly backed away "You are both stronger than you were when we fought last. I must be going now, I will see you again when my army takes Canterlot. She you soon Princess's " a portal opened behind him and he went through it before they could stop him. Celestia cursed and stomped the ground cracking it spectacularly. Celestia looked absolutely terrifying when she was mad, her eyes swirling with magic power "Sister shall we return to Canterlot?I believe he has just made an ultimatum" Luna said Celestia looked to her younger sister and said "We searched for a week to have him run like a coward, I say its time we slept in our own beds." Luna nodded and they took off flying fast with their Wonderbolt vanguard behind them as they flew towards Canterlot. After flying for an hour they reached Canterlot, the massive shield around the city dropped to allow them access , then it resealed. Luna and Celestia landed on the balcony of the castle that leads to the throne room. They dismissed their vanguard and went to their thrones. Twilight and Cadence were standing in front of a group of guard ponies who were almost hysteric. "The buildings were burned!" Pegasi reporting from Cloudsdayle, they can see them carrying cannons!" "The kingdom is under siege" tired of the arguing Luna stomped and yelled "Be still!" The guards turned to them and saluted. Twilight and Cadence looked relieved. One stepped forward "Princesses , Equestria is under siege, a small farm not far to the west was destroyed and we have spotted hundreds if not thousands ponies armed and marching this way. Hordes of changelings follow them as an aerial guard." Celestia looked grim "Do you have idea how many exactly?" The guard nodded "We believe their numbers are over twenty thousand strong" Celestia was silent so long that Luna spoke for her"Evacuate the civilians through the emergency tunnel, pull up all the reserves and contact Cloudsdayle to send all the Wonderbolts they can spare. We must summon Discord sister" Celestia came out of her silence "Yes, prepare for battle. Reinforce the city" the guards left and Twilight yelled "Discord get out of the window, Luna and Celestia are back!" The stained glass window came to life and sighed. Snapping his fingers he appeared next to Twilight. He stretched his back "Well how was the trip Celestia, Luna?" Celestia dropped her head "When you were gone Discord, your sure you didn't find it?" Discord looked shocked "I would have told you had I found it" Celestia nodded to him"Discord set up traps around the city then report here, it will take all of us to stand a chance. Twilight you have a more important mission, you must go with civilians and keep order. If Canterlot falls with Luna, Cadence and I here you must rule Equestria in our place" Twilight looked offended "No!" Celestia looked surprised "No?" Twilight reiterated "No! I wont let you send me away from the fight, if we all fight together we can beat him!" Celestia looked argumentative but Luna stepped forward " He would kill you Twilight. He would kill us while we would be mourning you, is that what you want?" Twilight seemed unable to answer. "For that matter" Luna continued"Cadence should go as well" Cadence shouted "What!," Luna continued as if she had heard nothing "She is so young compared to us sister and we can coordinate more precise strikes more accurately if it were just the two of us. We stand a better chance of winning if we.. ".BOOOM!! Luna stopped and then said to Celestia "Those shots are from our own cannons, the enemy is here, sister" Celestia shook her head and stomped  "Twilight,Cadence you are to go now!" Guards came from another room and flanked them. Celestia and Luna walked past them as the guards escorted Twilight and Cadence to the evacuation tunnel. Celestia and Luna flew into the city and saw as a large army was marching towards the city, magical cannons mounted along Canterlot's wall were firing on the oncoming force. Celestia watched as a barrage of return fire hit the shield and almost made it collapse. This day is not going to be fun Luna thought.