The Thunder Twist Chronicle

Chapter 16

War. It’s coming, and there is nothing I can do about it. I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t scared. I am, but not for myself. No, I’m scared for my family.

I’ve had a wonderful five years of marriage. Sil and I now have two children. Our first, Lightning Dash, named after his great grandfather, is four years old, and our second, a little filly named Twisted Rainbow, is three. Both are Pegasi. I guess being a Pegasus is a dominant gene in my family. I love them to death, and it is for them that I fear. I came to grips with death a long time ago, but they are just two precious. I will kill in the thousands to protect them.

The declaration of war came two weeks ago. Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings has united her army with that of the zebras of the badlands, and now they aim to take over Equestria. I have been waiting nervously for my summons from Princess Luna. As soon as she summons me, I know it will be time for battle.

I open the door at the third knock. Standing in front of me is none other than the Princess of the Night herself.

“Thunder Twist, it is time. The Changeling and Zebra army has just crossed the border. Our main force is already almost there to meet them. You will be going into battle with Shining Silver, Gambit, Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie Pie. I will join you shortly. Twilight will teleport you there. You will be in charge. You have grown much in the past five years, and I can see it was wise to make you the captain of my guard.”

I bow low to her. “Thank you, Princess.” I look up at her. “Can you please ask Rarity to take care of Lightning Dash and Twisted Rainbow if neither Shining Silver nor I make it back?”

She puts a hoof on my shoulder. “It will be done, Thunder Twist.”

“Thank you again, Princess.”

Twenty minutes later the five of us are standing in the middle of the throne room with Princess Celestia, getting ready to leave.

“The battle should start within five minutes.” The Princess tells us morosely. “Thunder Twist, I am putting you in charge of this squad.” She turns to the group at large. “Please, my little ponies, avoid killing if you can. Now Twilight Sparkle, forever my faithful student, do what must be done.”

Twilight looks up, “Yes, my Princess.” And with that she teleports us to the border of the badlands and Equestria.

We appear at the frontlines of the Equestrian army. About a half mile ahead of us, stands the Changeling Zebra Alliance. It appears they outnumber us five to one. Not the odds I hoped for, but I can deal with it.

Shining Armor walks up to me from the ranks of his troops. “Good you’re here. Do you have a plan?”

I nod. “I do. I want you to stay with your battle plan for your troops. The five of us will fight our way Chrysalis. The sooner we end this battle, the better.”

Shining Armor nods back at me. “As good a strategy as any.” He walks back to his troops as I turn to mine.

“OK, you heard my plan. We are going straight for the Queen, clearing out any resistance as we go. Twilight, can you teleport just the five of use right to the edge of their army without too much effort?”

She nods, “I can.”

“Good we will wait until the two armies have almost met then you will take us back to the frontlines.” I walk over to Shining Armor and tell him our plan.

“Very well,” he says. He turns to a Unicorn with a bugle strapped around his hips. “Sound the charge.”

The Unicorn uses his magic to bring the horn to his lips, and he blows three loud blasts.

The main force starts marching toward the enemy. The Changelings and Zebras see this and they start marching, too. It’s only a matter of time.

I look to Twilight and nod. “It is time.”

She takes a deep breath. “Very well.”

Right before we teleport, I put a hoof on Sil’s shoulder. She looks at me. “I love you,” I say.

She nods and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “I love you, too.”

The next second we are right in front on the enemy force. We dive into the fray. I bring out my two flaming swords, tempering them enough to only incapacitate. Sil and Twilight shoot beams out of their horns. Gambit is using a long sword. Pinkie brought her trusty party cannon and is using it with extreme prejudice.

We are making a huge dent in the enemy ranks as we take down Changeling and Zebra alike, but I should have known it was too good to last.

Gambit is the first to fall. A Changeling charged him while he was engaged with a Zebra. The horn of the Changeling penetrates his throat, and blood splashes of everything in the vicinity.

“No!” I cry out, swing my sword down on the Changelings neck, decapitating it, causing more blood to spray out.

I want to grieve for my fallen friend, but to do that would spell certain death for me.

We continue fighting, making our way to the Queen. I have started killing now, my grief turned to anger. My skill cannot protect us all, however. Pinkie Pie falls next, a beam to the heart. Shortly after, a Zebra cuts Twilight in half. I have to force myself to become emotionally numb as I watch my friends die around me, their blood soaking my coat.

Now it’s just me and Sil, both of us now aiming to kill. Exhaustion is quickly becoming our worst enemy as we start taking several cuts.

Finally, oh, sweet Celestia, finally, we find ourselves face to face with Queen Chrysalis. She looks down at us and laughs.

“So you are the ones come to defeat me.” She smiles wickedly at us. “What are you going to do? Beat me with the power of love. Or maybe friendship. Ha! Maybe you should just run along before I have to kill you.”

I look her square in the eyes. “I will be the one doing the killing, Chrysalis.” I charge.

Sil and I have our hooves full with this one. She counters everything we throw at her. The fight rages on for ten minutes before a mistake is made.

Unfortunately, it is Sil who makes that mistake. Chrysalis takes advantage of her predicament.

“Now, die!” she yells as she shoots a beam toward Sil’s heart. Sil is able to move just enough to cause the beam to hit her in the stomach instead of the heart, but is still a grievous wound.

Upon seeing my wife hit, my emotional barrier shatters and pure hatred spews forth. I feel my whole body consumed with heat. On instinct, when the heat rises high enough, I release it. A huge ring of fire spreads out across the battle field, killing every Changeling and Zebra on the battle field.

Seeing that the battle is over, I run over to Sil. Thankfully, she is still breathing. Unconscious, but alive. I pick her up in my forelegs and take off back toward Canterlot as swiftly as possible. Creating a Flare Bomb every ten miles.

When I’m three quarters to the city, I feel Sil stir in my forelegs. I look down at her. “Hold on Sil, we are almost there.” Tears are clouding my vision.

She reaches up and puts a hoof on my cheek. “Twisty… I… love… you.”

With those final words, she closes her eyes and is gone.