Wrath of the Sun

Ponies of the Liberation Core stood around chatting with each other as they ready themselves for the attack against the illegal Pokemon fighting rings. After Celestia returned to Canterlot, she ordered Captain Speed to her room and told her of her new findings and wished for Speed to look into the matter. He agreed and sent out his best agents, the Sky brothers. They returned within three days of a location of a fighting ring located outside of Appleloosa.

After Speed got the information and relaid it back to Celestia, the Liberation Core went into action. Speed gathered all the ponies he could who weren't looking into Quantum or Team Catastrophe. But even with that, Speed was able to gather a strong enough force.

Speed walked among his troops as they talked and mingled. He was waiting for the sky brothers to return from scouting the area. He wanted to make sure that no pony running the ring noticed their advancement. He looked around at his troops and spotted Celestia sitting alone looking out at the horizon. Her Lucario stood next to her. Speed watched as Celestia moved her lips, so he could tell she was chatting with her Lucario. He thought about going and talking with the princess and updating her on the timetable but decided not to. Speed then turned his attention to a set of flapping wings.

He looked to the sky to see two pegasi in grey armor descend to the ground. One had a red coat and blue mane, while the other had a blue coat and red mane. The two pegasi were the Sky Brothers. The red mane Pegasus was Sky Hawk, and the other was Sky Raiser, and the two happened to be twins. To tell the two apart better, Sky Raiser had scars covering his muzzle and face. All his wounds came from battles in close combat. Sky Hawk had no scars covering his body, so it was an easy way to tell the two apart.

"Report." Said Speed

Sky Raiser stepped forward, "It seems our intelligence was right. Just south of here is an old storage shed, where ponies are entering. We noticed metal cages of all sizes and Pokemon happen to be inside. But it seems we arrived before the fights are starting up."

"Thank you, Raiser." Said Speed

"So we are attacking, sir?" Asked Sky Hawk

"Soon, Sky Hawk, but be patient. We must make sure we follow the plan. One wrong step and the leader of this ring will be on us. We must capture all those who are participating in this offensive action." Said Speed

"We wait for your call, sir." Said Sky Raiser

The Sky brothers left, and Speed walked over to Celestia. Celestia turned her head when she heard hoof steps behind her. She turned her head to see Speed coming up to her.

"I assume the Sky brothers are back." Said Celestia

"Yes, and it seems that we are free to move forward with the operation. But we should get going; it seems the fighting might start soon." Said Speed

"Very well, call the troops together." Said Celestia

"Yes, princess." Said Speed

Speed walked away and began to rally the troops together for a debriefing of the mission. Celestia turned back to the horizon. She looked at her beautiful country that her sunlit. She got up and turned around followed by her Lucario.

"You going to be ok, Celestia?" Asked Lucario

"I'm ok, Lucario." Said Celestia

Lucario nodded as the two entered the large group of ponies gathered together.

"Alright, it's time we begin our assault on this Pokemon fighting ring. To give the layout of the plan, I turn you all to General Celestia." Said Speed

Celestia stepped forward, "Thank you Captain Speed. Ponies of the Liberation Core, our mission is simple. Destroy this Pokemon fighting ring. We cannot let such actions as pitting Pokemon against each other in bloody combat live in Equestria. So now to the operation. Captain Speed and I shall enter the fighting ring using disguises. The rest of you will take down the outside guards. Pegasi will take the skies and earth ponies and unicorn the grounds. Unless stated otherwise, we are not using Pokemon. Once you all have secured the perimeter, Captain Speed will give the order, and you charge inside. Unicorns will blow the doors away, and all units will charge inside and takedown all ponies and get them ready for transport back to Canterlot. We then secure the Pokemon and transport them to Canterlot for safety. Last is secure any information you can to find out the whereabouts of more rings. Does every pony understand?" All the ponies nodded at Celestia. "Then mission is ago."

"You heard the general, get moving." Said Speed

All the ponies saluted and went to their teams to begin the mission. Speed nodded to Celestia as they headed off to the infiltrate the ring.

***

Celestia and Speed watched as ponies walked into the old storage shed. She looked at Speed as she began her spell. It was a simple illusion spell to make them appear different. Once Celestia finished the spell, she was now a unicorn with a purple coat and sapphire mane. Her eyes were still the same color. Her cutie mark was now of silk garments. Speed was now a rich black color with a white mane. He had a bleeding sword for a cutie mark. His eye color was the same as was his scar.

"Remember your code name?" Asked Celestia

"Yes, I'm Scar, a disgraced Solar Gaurd. I'm now a hired hit man." Said Speed

"And I'm Soft Silk, a fashion designer, but also control a large underground mafia ring out of Manehattan." Said Celestia

Celestia then turned to her Lucario as she finished placing on a metal muzzle and Celestia used her magic to tie his hands together and put a rope leash around his neck.

"You ready, Lucario?" Asked Celestia

"Yes." Said Lucario

"Then let's move." Said Celestia

The trio walked out of the trees to the front of the storehouse. An earth pony stallion with a red coat and silver mane with a cutie mark of a hammer was guarding the door of the warehouse. He stood at the front doors letting ponies into the storehouse. Celestia used her magic to hold the rope around Lucario's neck. Speed stood next to her as they approached the stallion. The trio approached the stallion, but he stopped them.

"Halt, who are you?" Asked the stallion

"I'm Scar, and this is Soft Silk." Said Speed

"Yes, we heard about a fun new sport happening here. So we decided to come and see it for ourselves, and maybe even compete." Said Celestia

The stallion looked at the Lucario. Lucario growled, but Celestia pulled on the leash to calm him down.

"Sorry, I'm still training him to know who the master is." Said Celestia

"Well, I hope you both enjoy the show. Oh, and if you want to enter your Lucario, just look for the front desk." Said the stallion

"Thank you, kind sir." Said Celestia

Scar entered first followed by Celestia and her pulling Lucario with her. The trio entered the building and found a large crowd of ponies gambling, smoking eating and drinking as they sat around a large mesh covered hole. Cages sat at the edge of the room with Pokemon sitting inside. Ponies stood next to the cages looking at the Pokemon inside. A table sat where ponies were registering Pokemon for the upcoming battles. Celestia looked around for a seat and found it.

"Vile ponies." Said Celestia

"I agree." Said Speed

Speed pressed his right hoof to his ear as Celestia looked around at her ponies. Why do these ponies see fit to do this? What drives these ponies to be so vile and violent? Celestia got pulled from her thoughts when she felt Speed poking her. She turned to him.

"Units are on the move. ETA, two minutes before they can breach the front doors." Said Speed

"What a beautiful Pokemon?"

Celestia and Speed turned to an earth pony stallion looking over Lucario. He had a gold coat and a silver mane. He was wearing an elegant suit, and his mane styled back. He had gray eyes as she scanned over Lucario and his cutie mark was of gold bricks.

"Yes, quite a beautiful specimen." The stallion stopped when he saw Celestia and Speed looking at him. "Sorry, I can't help myself when a see such a perfect Pokemon. Now let me introduce myself, I'm Solid Gold. I'm the master of this ring."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Soft Silk, and this is Scar, an employee of sorts." Said Celestia

"Well, welcome to my fighting rings. I must ask, your first time." Said Gold

"Yes, so don't mind telling me what is going to happen?" Asked Celestia

"Oh, I would love to. The fight begins with two Pokemon. We give them a drug that turns them completely feral. We tell you the Pokemon who are going to fight, and you bet, if you wish. Then sit back and watch the gore. The fight usually ends one way, with death." Said Gold

"So it's a fight to the death." Said Speed

"Pretty much, now Mrs. Silk is the Lucario yours." Said Gold

"Oh, yes, I found in an alleyway and just knew he was perfect for such events. I came today to see if it's worth wasting my time keeping him for future fights." Said Celestia

Gold looked at Lucario, "I have no doubts that he could kill many of the competitors, once he's feral. Or you could use him as a breeding slave; I'm sure he could produce powerful kin." Said Gold

Lucario growled and tried to attack Gold. Gold just smiled as Celestia pulled Lucario on his leash to control him.

"Stop it you beast." Said Celestia

Lucario turned to her and growled, but stopped when Celestia slapped himself across the face hard with her magic.

"Want to growl at your master again." Said Celestia

Lucario growled again but stopped as Celestia nailed him again with her magic. Celestia glared down at Lucario, and he began to whimper as he held his face. Celestia smiled as she looked at Gold.

"I'm sorry about that." Said Celestia

"No problem, Mrs. Silk, I'm not scared of these beasts. Let them growl and snarl; they'll all know their place in time. Now, I must excuse myself to prepare for the upcoming fights. I do hope you enjoy them, Mrs. Silk." Said Gold

Gold picked up Celestia's right hoof and kissed it. Celestia giggled as Gold turned and left. Celestia watched as Gold left before shaking her hoof. She then turned to her Lucario as he rubbed his face.

"Sorry, Lucario." Said Celestia

"No need to apologize, we were just keeping up with your cover." Said Lucario

"Yes, but I felt so disgusted with myself when I struck you. I promise you; I'll make it up to you." Said Celestia

"You don't need to do anything, Celestia. I was just playing my part; I know you wouldn't harm me in any way." Said Lucario

Celestia nodded as she looked to Speed who lowered his hoof from his ear.

"Teams just finished last checks. All ponies guarding the area are down for the count. We are now ready for infiltration." Said Speed

"Understood, tell the troops to get into position and await your order." Said Celestia

"Understood." Said Speed

Celestia turned her attention back to the front as she watched as Solid Gold stepped up to a box and stood upon it. He cleared his throat and quieted down the crowd.

"Ponies of Equestria, I welcome you to my fighting ring." Ponies cheered and struck their hooves onto the ground. Gold rose his hoof to calm the crowd. "I know you all are excited to see our first fight and what a treat do I have for you." The ponies cheered once again. "Now let's get this competition started, in the first corner, I bring you the terror of terrors, the mighty Houndoom."

A unicorn levitated up a cage and opened the mesh lining and dropped out a Houndoom. The Dark and Fire Type Pokemon roared as it looked at the crowd of ponies.

"And now it's competitor, just for your enjoyment. Let's give up for the fresh meat, Riolu." Said Gold

Another cage entered and out came a Riolu. But unlike the Houndoom, it wasn't doped up. It looked around until it heard a growl and looked at the crazy Houndoom staring death into the Riolu's eyes.

"Folks, let's see some bloodshed!" Exclaimed Gold

The ponies roared as the Houndoom charged the Riolu with its mouth wide open. The Riolu dodged and just made it out of the way of the attack of the Houndoom. The Dark and Fire Type Pokemon struck the wall hard but didn't seem fazed as it turned on the Riolu and released a powerful Flamethrower. The Riolu brought up Protect, but the Flamethrower overpowered the Riolu and consumed it in flames. The crowd roared as the flames consumed Riolu

"Looks like the Riolu took that one front and center!" Announced Gold

The Riolu came out of the flames covered in burns. It breathed, heavily, as it tried to stand on its two feet. The Houndoom growled as it charged the Riolu. The Riolu couldn't move in time, and the Houndoom struck it in the chest before colliding with the wall.

"That might leave a mark!" Announced Gold

The Houndoom backed up as the poor wounded Riolu fell to the ground. But the Houndoom didn't let up as it attacked again. It bit down on the Riolu with its teeth and not the Pokemon attack Bite. Riolu shouted out in pain as Houndoom shook the Fighting Type Pokemon back and forth like a ragdoll. Soon the Houndoom tossed the Pokemon into the opposite wall. Blood dripped from its teeth and mouth. The Riolu had a nice set of marks covering its torso. It could barely move as its wounds bleed. The Houndoom howled as the crowd roared.

Celestia just watched motionlessly. She had her eyes trained not to the fight but her people. She felt bile building up in her stomach as she watched her ponies cheer on the bloodshed. She felt disgusted for what her ponies were doing. She heard them cheering and yelling for the Houndoom to tear the Riolu to shreds. She knew her species wasn't a violent one, but hearing them scream for bloodshed made her recant that statement. She looked at the Houndoom and dying Riolu and then up on the betting board. She watched as the amount kept skyrocketing for the Houndoom. Now they were betting how the Houndoom would kill the Riolu. Celestia could feel her rage at its peak.

"Order the attack." Said Celestia

Speed looked up at Celestia and nodded. He placed his hoof up to his ear and relaid the order to the army outside. He got a confirmation that they understood and were beginning breaching.

"They'll be breaching in a matter of minutes." Said Speed

Celestia nodded and turned her attention back the fight. The Riolu wasn't moving, and the Houndoom was approaching the Fighting Type Pokemon. Celestia had enough of the fight; she wasn't going to let the Houndoom kill the Riolu. She activated her horn and fired off a spell blowing apart the mesh covering and giving her a smoke cover to enter the arena. Once inside, she used a spell to put the Houndoom to sleep. Then the smoke finally was disappeared thanks to some unicorns.

"Who dares disturb the fight?" Asked Gold

"I do." Celestia flapped her wings to remove the smoke around her. Ponies gasped as they looked at the silver armored Celestia. They also saw a sleeping Houndoom.

"Princess Celestia, how did you get here?" Asked Gold

"Easy I walked through your front door. Now you all are under arrest and shall be put on trial for illegal fighting." Said Celestia

The ponies laughed, "Look around, princess, we outnumber you."

Soon an explosion echoed the room. Celestia smiled as the Liberation Core entered and started to take down the ponies. Pegasi took to the airs to keep other Pegasi from escaping. Unicorns using their magic to paralyze ponies and earth ponies using brute strength. Captain Speed was also in the fight as was Lucario. Captain's Speed disguise fell when Celestia released the spell keeping it going. Lucario easily got out of his binds and ran for Gold and tackled him to the ground to prevent him from running.

In a matter of minutes, the Liberation Core had incapacitated all the ponies in attendance. A pair of pegasi flew down and took ahold of the sleeping Houndoom and flew back to the main floor. Celestia picked up the wounded and dying Riolu in her hooves. It coughed up a good amount of blood. But Celestia was happy to see the Pokemon still fighting to live. Blood of the Riolu was soaking her white hooves. She took flight and came to a pair of medical ponies. She handed over the Riolu, and they ran off to treat the wounds. Other ponies were removing Pokemon from their cages and leading them outside where they could get food and water.

Celestia looked at her bloodstained hooves that held the Riolu. The blood was still wet and matting her fur. She watched as it dripped from the hairs of her hooves. She then turned to her Lucario holding Solid Gold.

"Speed, start removing the prisoners." Said Celestia

"Yes, ma'am." Said Speed

Speed turned and began to relay his orders, and the Liberation Core went to work. Celestia walked over to Solid Gold. She used her magic to pick him up and freeing her Lucario from holding him.

"I want you to go check on the Riolu and the Pokemon." Said Celestia

"Yes." Lucario turned to leave but turned back to Celestia. He wanted to talk, but decided to leave Celestia to her business. He turned back and left, but took a few prisoners with him.

Solid Gold tried to break free from Celestia's magical grip, but he couldn't. Soon he turned and landed his eyes on Celestia's. He started to shake as he looked at Celestia's lifeless eyes that could scare even the most fearless of creatures. Gold could feel her eyes boring holes into his soul.

"You think I'm going to talk." Said Gold

Celestia didn't respond; she just stared at him blankly. Her eyes never turned away from him. It was like she was in a trance. Gold wiggled at how uncomfortable her stare was. He tried to look away. But Celestia moved him closer to her and made sure they were at eye level. He started to sweat as her eyes bore right into his.

"You think I'm afraid of you." Said Gold

"You should be." Said Celestia

The color washed from Gold's face as he heard Celestia's voice. She normally had a motherly voice, but this one was dark and sadistic. It sounded as if the Grim Reaper was talking through her to him. Soon he felt Celestia walking and the next thing he knew, he was falling to the ground. He found himself in the pit. He looked up at Celestia as she removed her shoes from her right hoof and dipped it into the blood covering her left hoof. She began to hum a tune as she wrote on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Demanded Gold

Celestia didn't answer; she kept humming her tune and continued to write.

"You can't keep me in here!" Exclaimed Gold

But Celestia didn't answer and just kept humming. Gold couldn't stop shaking as he heard her hum. He wasn't sure why, but her humming was haunting to him. She then finished scrawling on the stones above the pit. She then placed her shoe on once again and then looked down at Solid Gold and gave a wicked smile and spoke in a demonic tone.

"You should have feared sun."

Gold backed himself into the corner as Celestia smiled as she walked away and left Gold shivering in the corner of the pit. He then saw a single drop of blood drip from the top of the ring. He watched the blood drop head towards the ground. He watched as it hit the ground, and then suddenly a large flash of light followed. He screamed as light engulfed him

***

"I checked everything, sir. All units accounted for and ready to go. We also have all prisoners accounted for and ready for transport. All the Pokemon are under the care of the medical officers and Lucario is keeping them calm. We searched the place and found nothing tangible to lead us to another ring or the masterminds. But, we are waiting for General Celestia and the stallion she had in her magic." Said Sky Hawk

"Understood Sky Hawk, let's get working on transporting the prisoners to Canterlot as well as the Pokemon." Said Speed

"Yes, sir." Said Sky Hawk

Sky Hawk and Speed turned to see Celestia stepping out of the storage unit. But she didn't have Solid Gold with her. Speed wondered where Gold was. He was about to go and ask, but an explosion interrupted him. All the Liberation Core stopped to watch the warehouse go up in flames. Ponies watched as Celestia just walked past them humming her tune. Speed recognized the tune as the Wrath of the Sun. A tune all guards, Lunar and Solar knew too well. A song to remember as you serve the Equestrian Kingdom.

Speed turned back to the flaming storehouse. He then began to sing the haunting song of Princess Celestia.

"Oh little one, oh little one. Hear my song. Love the sun; oh love the sun. But always be fearful of the sun. For its rays know all evil. And if it finds evil, know that it will purge it. So little one, oh little one, fear the sun. Fear the sun's holy wrath. For those who don't learn to fear the sun. Will find only her wrath!"

Author's Note

So as I promised, the next chapter of Poke Eques is here. Hooray, I finished another chapter. So I know that this chapter did get a little dark, but hey, Pokemon can't always cheerful. Just because the anime doesn't get into mature themes, means I won't. But you don't need to concern yourself with the whole story being dark, as I'm not looking to make Poke Eques an entirely dark story. But do know at times, I will dive into some dark content. So I do hope you enjoy this chapter. And a quick heads up, the fighting ring arc is now over. Yes, this arc is over. I'll finalize it in the upcoming chapter but don't expect any more chapters about the Liberation Core attacking Pokemon fighting rings. But I will make references to it in later chapters.

Now I have to get back to that all import school, so I'll have to leave it here. But I do hope you all still stick around as this story is far from over. So as always: comment, like, follow, share and tell. See you all next time on Poke Eques.