Avengers: War for Equestria

"Well, that was quite interesting," gasped Julia as she and the rest of the group returned to S.M.I.L.E. headquarters after their encounter with the wind god, Arabus. "Nearly being thrown to my death from 20,000 feet. Like to get my hands on that big blowhard."

"Easy there, Chuckles," remarked Jim, climbing out of his chariot with Peter. "Just be thankful it wasn't a tornado."

"Shut up, Rhody."

"I thought it was kind of cool," chuckled Peter.

"You too, junior."

However, before any arguments could escalate, they were all ushered back into the building by Fury Swipes. Upon heading inside, they came across the medical ward where Mage Meadowbrook was attempting to heal the Guardians of the Galaxy. This got the attention of both Starswirl and Rockhoof.

"Mage?" cried Starswirl, placing his hooves on the window of the ward. "What is she doing with those strange creatures?"

"We're not sure," replied Fury, hastily heading back to his office with Romanoff and several of the Avengers. "But, I think Dr. Banner might provide us with a good explanation for all of this."

Just then, Bruce walked towards the ward and saw both pillars in front of him.

"You know you're supposed to be in bed, Starswirl," he said to the sorcerer pony. "Why are you out of bed?"

"Because I feel that I needed to be in Canterlot," he answered, firmly. "What is happening concerns me much more than it does you, human."

"Well, if you are out of bed, that means you are healing well. Still, I'm keeping an eye on you. Right now, I need to check on the occupants of the ship that crashed here in Equestria."

Starswirl and Rockhoof watched as Bruce went into the ward.

…

Meanwhile, Twilight was still thinking about Celestia in light of her becoming emotional. In Twilight's mind, there was something upsetting Celestia and she was determined to get to the bottom of it. At the same time, she was also thinking about Rainbow Dash, who had been knocked out of the sky by a falling Pegasus after rescuing Julia. But, her train of thought about both situations was soon interrupted when Sunset saw Twilight walking by and came over to talk to her.

"You seem sort of troubled, Twilight," Sunset remarked. "Everything all right?"

"Well, yes and no," replied Twilight, looking over at Sunset. "For one thing we were attacked by a creature made of wind that nearly killed one of the Avengers. Thankfully, Rainbow Dash was able to save her, but she was knocked out of the sky. But, there is something else that has been bothering me. Did Celestia ever tell you that she and Luna had another sibling?"

"No…I don't think so."

"Well, during the meeting, she became choked up about something and I think it might be related with all that is happening. I want to ask her to see if things were entirely okay, but now's not the time."

At that moment, the two mares then gazed their attention towards the front of the wrecked ship's nose still being analyzed by the S.M.I.L.E. agents and scientists.

"What's this?" Twilight asked.

"A ship crash landed here today," answered Sunset. "There were traces of Equestrian magic on the nose, so that's why were are analyzing it."

"Equestrian magic?"

"Yes. I don't know how it got there either, Twilight. But, we aren't taking any chances, now that Equestrian magic has been found."

"Where did it come from?"

"Outer space."

"What? Outer space? How?"

"I wish I could give you the answers, Twilight, but I don't know. I mean, I was recruited because of my knowledge of Equestrian magic in my world. But, even I don't know all the answers. Something tells me that this ship crash landing here in Equestria might have something to do with all of this, but perhaps we should ask the ship's occupants for answers."

So, Twilight and Sunset made their way towards the medical ward where Mage Meadowbrook was now working on trying to heal the raccoon that was aboard the ship. Suddenly, the raccoon slowly opened his eyes and upon seeing Mage towering over him, the raccoon began to panic.

"Help! Help! Help!" the raccoon cried, trying to get off of the table, only to be forced back down by Mage and some of the technicians. "I've got a bird trying to peck at me!"

"Take it easy, sugar," cried Mage, holding the raccoon down. "It's okay! It's okay! I'm not going to hurt you!"

This caused the raccoon to stop resisting and look up at Mage, who pulled her mask up to reveal her face underneath it.

"You're…not going to hurt me?" the raccoon suddenly asked. "Then, why are you wearing a bird face?"

"It's just part of my process to heal you of your injuries, sugar pie," chuckled Mage, much to the raccoon's confusion. "And this isn't a bird face, it's a mask."

"Boy," remarked the raccoon, sighing heavily. "If this is part of your process, can't imagine how the kiddies feel."

The more the raccoon talked, the more Mage became amused by him.

"Name's Rocket, by the way. Rocket Raccoon, intergalactic bounty hunter."

"Oh, uh, Mage Meadowbrook's my name," she chuckled, rubbing her hoof against the side of Rocket's face. "Healer and pillar of Equestria."

"What's going on in here?" they heard Twilight say as she, Sunset, Starswirl and Rockhoof walk into the ward. "We heard screaming and wanted to find out what was happening. Mage Meadowbrook, what are you doing here?"

"Princess Twilight," she remarked. "I saw the crash and I came to help out in any way I could."

Twilight then looked down and saw Rocket for the first time.

"And who are you?"

"Rocket Raccoon, intergalactic bounty hunter, your highness," he answered, bowing his head in respect. "I'd show you respect, but I'm kind of tied down at the moment. And who's the dude with the beard?"

"I happen to be Starswirl the Bearded, little one," he scoffed, slightly insulted. "Leader of the Pillars and I demand you show me a little respect!"

"If you say so," whispered Rocket, keeping his eyes focused solely on Mage Meadowbrook. Just then, a small groan came out from one of the other occupants as he slowly opened his eyes. "Hey, Star Lord! You're awake."

"Uh, I think so," he groaned, trying to make sense of the space he was in. "How the hell did I get in here? Where's that large pony dude gone to?"

This made Twilight and Sunset race over to the awakened human.

"What large pony dude?" asked Sunset. "What are you talking about?"

"This pony dude with wings knocked out of the galaxy," he moaned, weakly looking over to Twilight and Sunset. "Red like the fires of hell and had a mask covering his face. We tried to combat him, but he just swatted…us away like a fly."

It was now apparent to both Sunset and Twilight that this was the reason why Celestia was very troubled.

"We're going to have to ask you a few questions," Twilight said, firmly as the human groaned in disgust at being questioned so quickly.

…

Back in Canterlot, Celestia and Luna went into seclusion while Tempest waited outside Celestia's quarters with Grubber.

"She's been in there for a long time now," remarked Grubber. "Don't you think we should at least check up on them?"

"If Luna says they want privacy, then we should let them have privacy," replied Tempest, looking down at Grubber. "Still, if I could at least get a sense of why Celestia is so upset."

Just then, the door opened and out stepped Princess Cadence, sighing heavily at Tempest and Grubber.

"How is Celestia?" asked Tempest.

"She's calmed down a little, but is still very upset," answered Cadence. "In fact, Aunt Luna also is starting to get a little upset too.

"This isn't just about a prison escape from Tartarus," sighed Tempest. "Nopony would be upset over that, nor about what happened in Maretonia because no lives were lost in that. Have you managed to get either one to talk?"

"Tempest, I can't force my aunts to open up about something that they are sensitive about. But, sooner or later they are going to have to open up when they feel its time."

Just then, a messenger came forward with a scroll in her aura, handing it to Cadence.

"Any messages or intelligence goes to me," ordered Cadence to the messenger. "Understood?"

"Yes, your highness," the messenger replied. "This just came back from S.M.I.L.E., 20 Pegasus dead battling the wind god, Arabus."

A sickening feeling came through Cadence's stomach and realized the fragility of the situation that Celestia and Luna were in.

"What do we do now?" asked Tempest, but Cadence didn't know how to answer.

…

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, who had been knocked out of the sky by a falling Pegasus during Arabus' rampage, was trying to help out any of her fellow Pegasi that fell out of the sky. Just then, she saw a Pegasus pony lying on the ground, but amazingly still alive.

"Flash Magnus," she gasped, bending down and lifting his head up. Tears formed at the corners of Rainbow's eyes not just because a pillar of Equestria was badly injured, but also for the 20 Pegasus ponies finding the wind god that were now lying dead.

…